THREE firefighters who, between them, have given decades of service to the community in Malvern and Upton, have been honoured at the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service Worcestershire Awards.

Retired Watch Commander Saul Bolton and Keith Sheppard received 30 years’ service awards at the awards ceremony at Worcester Guildhall.

Mr Bolton started his career at Hereford in September 1988 and also went on to work at Worcester Fire Station.

He was promoted to sub officer at Malvern in 1998 before subsequently becoming a watch commander.

He took an active role in developing and delivering the service’s approach to wildfire and rope rescue and retired from the service in September 2018.

Keith Sheppard started his career as a service mechanic in November 1988 and became an on-call firefighter at Worcester in March 1990.

He served on-call at Worcester and Malvern and retired from on-call in April 2012.

He continued in his role as mechanic before retiring from the service in March this year.

Stuart Harris received the fire brigade’s long service and good conduct medal to mark his 20 years of service.

Mr Harris started his career in April 1999 as a firefighter at Upton and, since 2007, has undertaken a number of temporary promotions to crew commander.

He has served the community of Upton-upon-Severn, where he is a garage owner, throughout his entire career.

Chief Fire Officer Nathan Travis said: “I am immensely proud to be the chief fire officer of a service that has clearly demonstrated great resilience during a period of significant change and upheaval across the whole of the public sector,” he said.

“It is a service whose people are determined to add extra value to their communities, whether it is through their skills and bravery, going the extra mile or through their sheer dedication and commitment to their job.”

The medals and awards were presented by Lady Morrison, the deputy Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Edward Holloway, the High Sheriff of Worcestershire, fire authority chairman Roger Phillips and Mr Travis.