Friday 15 January
09.00hrs
Avon Fire & Rescue Service is celebrating after being
recognised in the New Year honours in The Gambia.
The organisation has been awarded the insignia of Commander of
the National Order of the Republic of The Gambia (CRG). This is the
highest honour awarded by the President of The Gambia Sheikh
Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya A JJ Jammeh.
This award recognises the work of the organisation, including
that of Avon Fire Authority Members and AF&RS staff to support
the Gambia & Avon Fire Services in Partnership (GAFSIP)
charity.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer / Chief
Executive Kevin Pearson said: “I am delighted and honoured to
receive this prestigious accolade. Not only does it recognise the
training and donations we have supplied to The Gambia over the
years, but it also pays tribute to the work of our staff in
organising fundraising events, collecting items, filling containers
and raising money for the charity.
“This is a huge honour for Avon Fire & Rescue Service to be
recognised in a foreign country and it gives excellent recognition
to the partnership, which many people across the organisation have
been committed to for a very long time.”
The GAFSIP charity began 17 years ago when Dave Hutchings, a
former Chief Fire Officer at Avon Fire & Rescue Service, was on
holiday in The Gambia. He witnessed a road traffic collision in
which two adults and four children died, because of a lack of
rescue equipment available.
When he returned home he decided to try and make a difference by
raising money to pay for equipment no longer being used in Avon to
be shipped to The Gambia.
Since the project began The Gambian Government has built 12 new
fire stations, with each division of the country now having its own
fire and rescue service cover from the capital Banjul to Basse, the
largest populated area. This has led to the creation of around 800
jobs.
Ends