Exclusive by Alan Quick

A CREDITON man has been thanked for his service as a retained firefighter serving the town and area for more than 25 years.

Jeremy “Biffo” Holland said he was retiring as a firefighter to pursue other interests and to enjoy some travelling.

Biffo will retire at the end of August and was recently presented with a certificate of thanks from L T Howell, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer and a Service Shield, presented by Jon Worsley, Group Manager.

Biffo said that the most memorable fire he attended was the Buller Square fire in Crediton in February 2012 when five historic thatched cottages and adjoining properties were severely damaged.

He said he had attended more than 100 thatched property fires during his time as a firefighter, as well as many road accidents and also remembered, with detail, when Queen Elizabeth’s School Boarding caught fire and he could hear the roof slates cracking on the roof as a result of the fire from his then home at Barnfield.

Biffo spoke about the changes in the fire service since he joined, explaining that when he started retained crews were “on call 24/7”.

He said that for the first three months after joining, he never left Crediton once as he may have been required to attend a fire or incident.

Biffo spoke about the changes in fire appliances and equipment, giving an example of 25 years ago when wooden ladders were still carried on the fire appliances.

He said he had seen many changes in station crew, a total of 32 different firefighters had come and gone during his time of service and he had served under three station managers, Peter Howison, Bob Castell and Mark Smith. He had served with seven or eight watch managers and eight or nine crew managers.

Jon Worsley, speaking on behalf of the Service, expressed his thanks to Biffo for his dedication and everything he had done for the station.

At another presentation, Biffo was presented with an old firefighters axe mounted on a board with an inscription stating when he started and finished in the Fire Service, a gift from the Crediton firefighters, which was presented by Peter Howison, ex station officer.

Biffo said he had enjoyed being a retained firefighter and serving the Crediton community.