FIREFIGHTERS from Crediton’s Retained Station gathered at Club Crediton to pay tribute to two long-serving colleagues upon their retirement.

Tributes were paid to Alan (Dick) Dendle who has completed 33 years’ service as a Crediton firefighter and Ian Salter, who has completed 23 years’ service, also as a Crediton firefighter.

Both were presented with commemorative fire axes from the Crediton crew.

Former Crediton Station Manager Peter Howison presented the axe to Dick and said: “It gives me great pleasure to present Dick with this axe.

“During the 15 years I was station manager I found that Dick was a dedicated and reliable retained firefighter.

“He could always be relied upon and was a credit to the service, never letting anyone down.”

Mr Howison recalled some of the fires he had attended with Dick and the Crediton crew during those years.

Dick said that he actually served under three different fire services, the latest of which is Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

He said it had been a pleasure to serve, adding that he had enjoyed his time with his colleagues and would miss the comaraderie that they had all enjoyed.

Dick also received a Certificate of Service awarded in thanks and recognition of having served for 33 years from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, which had been signed by Glenn Askew, Chief Fire Officer.

Former Station Officer Mark Smith then presented an axe from his former colleagues and a certificate from DSFRS to Ian for his 23 years of service.

He explained: “I joined the Fire Service in the same year as Ian, a few months between us, and we share a lot of good memories of attending shouts over many years.

“I would like to thank Ian for his service and I am sure he will often think about some of the things we went through.”

Ian said he would miss being a firefighter but had thoroughly enjoyed it.

He explained that he remembered attending some very big fires across the county and into Somerset.

CLOSED HIGH STREET

Ian said: “I closed Crediton High Street many times when we had some serious fires, have rescued birds from trees, a couple of cats and attended many farm fires and road traffic accidents.

“I have been a firefighter, Watch Commander, Leading Firefighter, Sub Officer and Watch Manager while in service.

“I remember some of Crediton’s most serious fires. The tiles cracking on the roof of the Queen Elizabeth’s School Boarding building when that was on fire.

“The Buller Square fire in February 2012, when five historic properties were destroyed was one of the most memorable.

“In the early days, when we went to a fire, we stayed until the very end.”

BULLER SQUARE

Dick also remembered the Buller Square fire.

He explained: “I was the driver of the first pump in attendance at the Buller Square fire when the five thatched properties were destroyed.

“Fortunately no-one was injured but you can’t believe it was in 2012.

“I remember one particular Crediton High Street property fire near the crossing when we had six pumps and the road was closed.

“We had the hydraulic platform at that incident.

HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF INCIDENTS

“I have been to hundreds if not thousands of incidents over the years, fires and road accidents, and in some cases it was really challenging.

“Just after Symond’s yard went up we had another fire and the water was frozen.

“We had some testing times with the snow as well. Once ‘Thatcher’ commandeered a snow plough and a police car.

“I remember a big fire at Fordton with pigs involved, some of which didn’t make it.

“On another occasion we were at a fire and the local undertakers brought us out a roast dinner as none of us had eaten for hours.

“Once we were at a fire for 12 hours at Coleford and had just got back to the station when we were called on standby to Chulmleigh, and that was at 4.30 in the morning.

“Once we went from one fire to the other and we really had no sleep for three days.

“In more recent years I have driven the DSFRS Welfare Pod to many incidents across the county and Somerset.”

Ian and Dick had to attend regular training sessions and courses to stay up-to-date with new technology etc over the years, in addition to the weekly practice nights.

Both of the firefighters thanked their wives for their support over the years, however it is them who are thanked for their service, dedication and hard work for the community.