Fleur Lombard Bursary

Following Fleur's tragic death a trust fund was set up as a fitting tribute to her bravery, courage, dedication, and professionalism. 

About Fleur Lombard (1974 – 1996)

Fleur was the first female firefighter to die on duty in peacetime Britain.

On Sunday 4 February, 1996, fire crews were called to a fire at the Leos supermarket in Staple Hill, Bristol. Fleur, who was serving at Speedwell Fire Station at the time, was inside the building when she lost her life while tackling the fire.

Fleur was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal and Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation in recognition of her bravery. Two of her colleagues who were with her that day were also awarded the George Medal and the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.

The memories of Fleur remain close to the hearts of those in Avon and a memorial stands to commemorate her life near the site of the fire in Staple Hill. Fleur’s ashes were interred at St Enodoc Church in Trebetherick, Cornwall, which overlooks Daymer Bay – a cherished area where the family used to visit and have picnics.

On graduating in 1994, Fleur received the Silver Axe Award, for most outstanding recruit on her training school.

Every year, Avon Fire & Rescue Service marks her passing on the anniversary of her death to ensure she is never forgotten.

The Fleur Lombard Bursary

Following Fleur’s tragic death, a trust fund was set up as a fitting tribute to her bravery, courage, dedication, and professionalism.

The Fleur Lombard Bursary aims to keep Fleur’s values alive, helping others to progress their careers in the fire and rescue service. The bursary, which is open to all fire and rescue service staff across the UK, gives the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to fund study into firefighting and learning from other services across the world.

Funding is available for operational and support staff, from any fire and rescue service in the UK, provided they meet the aims of the fund.

To apply for The Fleur Lombard Bursary you will need to complete an application form, and refer to the checklist below to ensure that you meet the necessary criteria.

Download the form here.

If you would like to apply for the Bursary, contact the team via email or call our switchboard on 0117 926 2061.

Applications can be submitted at any time during the year.

  • Qualification – You must be a junior member (up to Watch Manager or Hay 6) of a UK fire and rescue service.
  • Objectives – Your proposal must meet one or more of the charitable objectives.
  • Benefits – The proposal demonstrates a benefit to your career, local fire and rescue service, local community and/or UK fire and rescue services or the community at large.
  • Restrictions – Your proposal is not one where an alternative source of funding is available, for example: training course, conference, directed study.
  • Cost – Costs must be provided and, where appropriate, show the personal contribution of the applicant.
  • Chief Fire Officer support – Applicant has provided confirmation of their local CFOs support.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can apply for funding from the bursary as a junior member of any UK fire and rescue service, this is defined as rank up to and including Watch Manager or Hay 6.

The object of the charity is to advance the education of junior members of the fire and rescue services to receive funding to travel and study fire and rescue-service related issues at other fire and rescue services elsewhere in the UK, in Europe or Worldwide.

The bursary is aimed at self-directed study, and therefore in view of the limited resources available within the fund, the Trustees will not award bursaries where alternative sources of funding are available.

To apply, please complete the application form on Avon Fire & Rescue Service website, you will need:

  • To be a junior member of the fire and rescue service – defined as up to and including level of Watch Manager or Hay 6.
  • To meet one or more of the charitable objectives, also explained on this page.
  • A written proposal which demonstrates a benefit to your career, service, local community and/or UK fire service or the community at large.
  • The proposal must include costings and where appropriate, show personal contribution of the applicant.
  • An appropriate mentor from your local fire and rescue service.
  • Confirmation of support from your Chief Fire Officer/Director.

Once the application form is completed, email the completed form to the team.

Applications should aim to demonstrate at least one or more of the following charitable objectives:

  • Reduce fires
  • Reduce death and injury by fire
  • Prevent damage to property and environment by fire
  • Reduce the risk of death or injury to firefighters
  • Offer career development stemming from the study

The bursary is in the region of £2,000 per applicant, but Trustees may consider granting a higher figure if justified. The application must include a breakdown of the costs associated with the proposal and, where possible, evidence that costs have been kept to a minimum by utilising accommodation available from the host service.

You must provide copies of receipts for all expenditure incurred.

After completion of the study, you must submit a report to the Trustees, and deliver a presentation to the Trustees at the next available meeting to provide an overview of the project and what you have learnt.

You are also expected to engage with Avon Fire & Rescue Service Corporate Communications Team by participating in an interview to help publicise the bursary.

To take advantage of the bursary, you must have a senior mentor within your local fire and rescue service. The mentor must support the applicant throughout their project including the oversight of completion of their report and presentation completion.

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