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A firefighter is celebrating his 50th year working with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and reflects on what he says is one of the best jobs in the world.
Peter Whiteley joined WYFRS as a firefighter at Sowerby Bridge in January 1975, serving operationally for 31 years, before moving to Driver Training, helping hundreds of firefighters get to grips with fire appliances and other fire vehicles and equipment.
“The change I’ve seen over the years has been massive.,” he recalls. “There used to be around 100 fire engines in service, which has obviously dropped over the years. I remember in the summer of the drought there was just fire after fire. Despite the large number of fire engines we were just all busy all the time – as soon as you booked available you would be sent to another job – and it could be anywhere in the whole of West Yorkshire.”
One of the changes he says he’s really noticed is the discussion about the mental health of firefighters. “Obviously sometimes you see things that can really affect you.” The support he has received from his colleagues and the friends he’s made along the way has been one of the best parts of the job, he says with some pride. “Before you would just talk it out between you, but the focus on mental health is a lot more now. When it was the Bradford City Fire the police and ambulance colleagues who attended were offered counselling – but we weren’t as it was just seen as a part of the job. It is much better today.”
“One of the most memorable incidents I attended was on a night with thick fog – we were called to fire at a farm in the middle of nowhere. We went up and got an old lady out of there, but then she said- ‘but what about Peter!’ Our hearts sank thinking Peter was her husband but he turned out to be a budgie!
“Anyway we got him out and he was lying on his back on the floor of the cage. One of the lads got him out and tried to give him some oxygen from the BA cylinder, but it blew him out of his hand and away into the foggy night! The lady thought he had flown off so she was happy, but it’s one of the more memorable things I’ve seen in my life!”
As Peter gets closer to retirement next year, he says that while he has thoroughly enjoyed all his years working for WYFRS, and it is “one of the best jobs in the world” he is a little bit nervous about the future. He is looking forward to spending more time with his family.
WYFRS Chief Fire Officer John Roberts said: “To dedicate his whole career to helping so many people is remarkable, so a huge well done to Peter for all his hard work. It’s a rare achievement for anyone to stay with any fire service for so long in the UK as a whole so it’s a pleasure to recognise his achievement.”
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