WOKINGHAM Fire Station welcomed two new recruits as wholetime firefighters last week.
Luke Foster and Mark Kelly both successfully completed an intensive 14-week course to become fully trained firefighters, learning skills such as water rescue, animal rescue and road traffic collision training, as well as receiving training in using breathing apparatus.
Mark and Luke joined six other new recruits to Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) at a celebratory ‘passing out’ parade at the service’s training centre in Whitley Wood on Wednesday, July 12.
During the event, the recruits showed off their new skills to their proud families and friends in a variety of drills, including a breathing apparatus rescue scenario and road traffic collision where they had to safely remove a ‘casualty’.
The new recruits also learned where they would be stationed, with Luke and Mark both being posted to Wokingham.
Special guests in attendance included Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire Gordon Storey, the Chairman of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority Councillor Colin Dudley and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Trevor Ferguson.
Group Manager Dom Manton said: “We’re delighted to welcome our new colleagues to RBFRS. They’ve all worked exceptionally hard during their training over the past 14 weeks and they should be proud of what they have achieved so far.
“For now, I just want to wish them every success and we are confident they are well equipped for the challenges ahead.”
Royal Berkshire Fire Authority Chairman, Councillor Colin Dudley, said: “I am very honoured as Fire Authority Chairman to have joined the new recruits at their passing out parade. The new recruits are what I believe to be, the future of our fire service.
“I am sure there will be times that they find the job challenging, however these feelings will be overcome by pride, knowing the impact that they’ve made in the community that they serve by saving lives.”
