Cover story - Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

QMNovember 2013, Issue 70Wiltshire FRSMagazineCover story:Disusedrailwayused forexerciseAlso inside:ShoutsFundraisingEqualityMattersThankswww.wiltsfire.gov.uk

Welcome from the ChiefOctober was the month of the St Jude ‘mega storm’ – happily, Wiltshire escapedfairly unscathed, especially compared with some other parts of the country.It was also the month of Red Kite, a large scale multi-agency exercise organisedby Wiltshire and Swindon Local Resilience Forum (LRF) to test all the county’sCategory One responders.GM Ian Rennie and GM Dave Dunford were central to the exercise’s planning onbehalf of the LRF, and personnel from across the Service were involved over thetwo days, either as part of the directing team or working within their specialisms onthe ‘incident’ itself.This was a very successful test with some vital learning points coming out of it, and my thanks go toeveryone who had a part in making it happen. Exercises are an integral part of our organisational learning,and we can only benefit when we involve other agencies – so I was pleased to see the reports in this QM oftraining with local businesses.The Safe Drive Stay Alive programme is now well underway, and I was able to attend one of thepresentations in Trowbridge last month. I never cease to be amazed at how young people respond to theroadshow – there can be no doubt that it really does make those in the audience think twice about their ownbehaviour.It was my pleasure to attend the recent opening of the new Tidworth Garrison Theatre, a very impressivevenue that is being used in a few weeks to host a Safe Drive show. We are always looking for new waysof working with our colleagues in the Armed Forces, and this theatre may present new opportunities forpartnership activities in the future, as it sits ‘outside the wire’ and can be used for greater communityintegration.Partnership is very much at the forefront of our minds in Swindon at the moment, with a significant piece ofwork being done by the ‘One Swindon’ team to bring together public services in a more efficient way. GMIan Jeary has been seconded to this project until the end of the year, and possibly the early part of nextyear as well, and this QM carries a feature on what he has been doing.Now that Halloween and Bonfire Night have passed, we have no way of avoiding the onset of Christmas –especially as the shops are now full of cards, gifts, decorations and goodies. The family carol service hasbeen booked for Devizes on 12 December, and an invitation is extended to you, your families and friends.There is also the children’s party held at TDC on 15 December, which sees Santa abseil from the trainingtower, and the annual Breakfast with Santa event at Devizes fire station, to be held on 21 December.Finally, I would urge you to support the Christmas Day lunch at Trowbridge fire station if you can – this isa fantastic initiative to help people who would otherwise be on their own, which represents perfectly theidea of being ‘at the heart of the community, for the community’. Whether you can cook on the day, or justdonate a raffle prize, all help will be gratefully received.Simon Routh-JonesChief Fire Officer & Chief ExecutiveHow you can contribute to QMIt’s easy to contribute to QM! Any copy for consideration should be sent in no later than the 28thof the month for the following month.You can:• Email e-magazine.submissions@wiltsfire.gov.uk• Post to HQ for the attention of Louise Knox• Call 01380 731126November 2013 Issue 70

Asbestos risk from garage blazeCrews from Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Melkshamand Corsham were called to Leigh Road, Bradford onAvon on 8 October after fire broke out in a domesticgarage.The garage was adjoined to the main house, and wasdestroyed by the blaze, although firefighters wereable to prevent the flames spreading into the livingaccommodation.The owner of the property was treated at the scene forburns and smoke inhalation, after trying to remove a carfrom the garage. He was taken to hospital for furtherchecks.Firefighters had to wear protective suits when dampingdown the scene as there was asbestos within the garagestructure.Kitchen badly damaged by toaster fireA toaster fire quickly spread through the kitchen of amid-terraced house in Innox Road, Trowbridge on 26October.Crews from Trowbridge (two), Bradford on Avon andMelksham, supported by the incident command vehiclefrom Devizes, tackled the blaze, which also caused heatdamage to the adjoining properties.Access was an issue, as Innox Road is very narrow – themain Bradford Road was closed for a time as applianceshad to park there rather than closer to the house.The British Red Cross fire and emergency supportservice was called to the scene so that its volunteerscould give support to the occupants of the fire-damagedproperty.Suspected arsonAn unoccupied farmhouse that was due to go to auctionwithin days was badly damaged by fire on 8 October.The property, in Limpers Hill, Mere was well alight whenthe first crew from Mere arrived at the scene.A further crew attended from Tisbury, supported bythe Salisbury aerial appliance and a water carrier fromWilton.It is believed that the fire was started deliberately.November 2013 Issue 70

Exercise simulates level crossing crashAn exercise has been held at the Swindon &Cricklade Railway to simulate a minibus and traincolliding on a level crossing.Organised by Blue Watch Swindon, the exerciseinvolved firefighters from Cricklade, Marlboroughand Swindon on-call.To make the scenario as lifelike as possible, five‘casualties’ needed to be freed from the minibus,and information had to be gathered from railwaypersonnel.SM Kathy Collis said: “We were very grateful tothe members of Swindon & Cricklade Railway whovolunteered their time and services to facilitate thisexercise and role played during the event.”If other stations are interested in using this disusedrailway line for training or future exercises, pleasecontact Blue Watch at Swindon for further contactdetails.Successful charity car washesWarminster firefighters teamed up with studentsfrom Kingdown School to hold a charity car washon 5 October.The event was held at Warminster fire station, andaround 40 cars were washed, raising £266.The students were drawn from Everest 2014, ateam of 24 young people and three staff membersfrom the school who are busy fundraising for anexpedition to Mount Everest in December nextyear.WM Chris Trimby explained: “Everest 2014 willbe an amazing experience for the students, butthey have also set themselves the target of raisingmoney for Children’s Hospice South West andDorothy House Hospice. They worked with us towash cars, and we split the proceeds between theircauses and our own Fire Fighters Charity.”More information about the Everest challenge canbe found at www.kingdowneverest.co.uk* Stratton firefighters held a joint car wash on 19October with Tigersharks Swimming Club and£436.64 was raised, to be split between the cluband the Fire Fighters Charity.November 2013 Issue 70

Chemistry in the Workplace demoOn 28 September, Red Watch at Salisbury was invitedto Wyvern College in Laverstock to be involved with a‘Chemistry In the Workplace’ activity day.CM Josh Wyer planned the lesson that the watchpresented to four groups of Year 9 students throughout theday.It involved a PowerPoint presentation showing thechildren how chemistry is part of our everyday work in theFire Service, and also a small demonstration of how weapproach and deal with a chemical incident.However, on the day, unforeseen crewing issues at otherstations meant it fell to CM Martin Waker to take the leadand deliver the presentation.He said: “The day ran very well and the children reallyenjoyed it. We got them involved by dressing them ingas tight suits and actually doing the demonstrationthemselves, so they got to feel a small part of what we do.”He added: “After the event, we received some lovelyfeedback from the organisers and we are now planningto take this on as a community project, offering similarpresentations to other schools.”Abigail Richings, from Catalyst Learning andCommunication, has since emailed to say: “The eventwas a huge success and the students really enjoyed yourworkshop. It was brilliant to see them taking part in thedecontamination activity, they seemed to be having greatfun! Many thanks once again for taking part and making itsuch a big success and a memorable day.”Andy takes on the Tough MudderA Westbury firefighter who took on the infamous ToughMudder Challenge in Wales has seen his sponsorshipboosted by a local business.Star Fish Bar in Warminster handed over a cheque for £300to Andy Nash and two colleagues from Frome fire station,Danny Barraclough and Darren Young.The trio successfully completed the Tough Mudder inCrickhowell - the event is a hardcore 13 mile obstaclecourse designed by British Special Forces to test strength,stamina, mental grit and camaraderie.Photo: Wiltshire TimesAndy’s aim was to raise £1,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity in its 75th year and he has already collectedsome £850, which includes the proceeds of a charity car wash held at Westbury fire station in August.Donations can still be made on-line - just visit www.justgiving.com/Andrew-Na5hNovember 2013 Issue 70

Equality MattersIn researching this month’s Equality Matters, I had occasion to view the equality calendar. There I found anumber of special dates which in my mind are related and link directly to our RESPECT framework:• Saturday 9th - International Day against Facism and Anti-Semitism• Monday 11th - Armistice Day• Saturday 16th - International Day of Tolerance• Monday 18th to Sunday 24th - Anti-Bullying WeekThere is one iconic visual representation of November and this is theRemembrance Day poppy worn to remember the fallen in battles goneby. It is for ever linked with the month and in particular Armistice Day - 11November. A couple of years ago this symbol took on an extra significancefor me as it was in November when my mother passed away.The poppy also reminds me of the suffering which took place during WorldWar 2 under the Nazi regime in Germany, not just of those soldiers wholost their lives but of the millions of Jews, gypsies, gay men, lesbians anddisabled people who perished. So it seems only right that the InternationalDay Against Facism and Anti-Semitism and the International Day ofTolerance also fall within this month.The climate of hate which developed during that war was born of a lack of tolerance and acceptance ofpeople who are seen as "different". People were not valued for the rich diversity which exists between usbut were singled out because of their difference, bullied, treated less favourably than others, de-humanisedand ultimately exterminated because of it.During the month and particularly Anti-Bullying Week we are reminded of the dangers of isolating peoplebecause they are different to us. It can start with name calling and blaming particular groups of people forall that is wrong in society. If left unchecked and unchallenged, it can lead to more sinister things.So whilst wearing our poppies I would ask you to think of these wider issues and of how YOU can makea difference. One way of doing that is to fully take on board the RESPECT framework and work in a waywhich is inclusive, tolerant and values those who are different from ourselves.ResponsibilityEqualitySupportiveProfessionalExcellenceCommunicationTransformationYou question and involve other people effectively and listen to their ideas.You respect people's rights as individualsYou are sensitive to other people's feelingsYou get different people/teams/organisations to work togetherYou promote the things the Service believes inYou ask questions to ensure you understand what you are being toldYou consider the impact of your plans on everyone else involvedRemember:"Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service and Wiltshire & Swindon Fire Authority values and respects diversity andis committed to promoting good community relations and equality of opportunity for all its workforce."Rex WebbEquality & Diversity AdvisorE. rex.webb@wiltsfire.gov.ukM. 07771 897912November 2013 Issue 70

Westbury Dairies hosts exerciseAn exercise was held at Westbury Dairies in WestWiltshire on 21 October, based on a scenario involvinga major ammonia leak following an explosion, with oneperson missing.CM Martin Waker planned the event after completingSite Specific Risk Information on the site. He said:“Such exercises are a great way to integrate with localbusinesses, and this one not only tested our responseto a hazmat incident, it also helped the dairy to provideevidence to their insurers that they are doing everythingthey can to protect their business.”The exercise involved pumps from Westbury, Trowbridgeand Devizes, supported by the operational support unitfrom Salisbury. SM Dan Cooke was the first tier officer,with GM Dave Jacomb, WM Matty Maggs and WM SimonPearce as observers.On the night, the first crew arrived from Westbury andstarted the initial attack gathering information, setting upand getting two BA wearers rigged in gas tight suits readyto go in to search. Meanwhile, the next two crews and theOSU arrived, and set up decontamination and incidentcommand.CM Waker said: “Everything went according to plan, with learning points being bought up at the time ratherthan through a large debrief at the end. All the objectives were achieved and in good time, so a smalldebrief was held for people to raise any issues. Overall it seemed a very positive evening for all involved,and we are planning to hold further exercises at the site in years to come.”Anyone who took part and has yet to email feedback through to Martin for the detailed debrief is asked todo so as soon as possible.Kevin Bryne, Health & Safety Manager at Westbury Dairies, said: “I really enjoyed watching the processbeing worked through. We've benefitted on five occasions now from the professionalism and commitment ofWiltshire FRS (four fires and one real ammonia leak, albeit an extremely minor one), so it was good to offeryou something back.”Parking donations boost charitySwindon Town FC’s fans are proving a healthy source of income for theFire Fighters Charity!Drove Road fire station is often opened up as a car park for peopleattending games over the road at the County Ground. Donations of £5per car are asked for, and drivers know that the money will go to theCharity.During September, an amazing £1,800 was banked – with just £700 coming from the one evening whenSwindon played Chelsea. A further £1,180 was raised during October.This fantastic fundraising would not be possible without the support of all the watches, as the parkingarrangements are always made by whoever is on duty.November 2013 Issue 70

Join the Santa fun run!Entries are now being welcomed for this year’s Santa Fun Run, in aid ofWiltshire Air Ambulance.The event is being held on Sunday 1 December at Lydiard Country Park,Swindon and covers a 5km course – a 3km route is available for childrenand pushchairs.Adults (16+) pay £15 to enter, which includes a full Santa suit! Childrenaged five to 15 pay £5 to enter, while infants can take part for free. All under16s receive a Santa hat – in addition, dogs on a lead are welcome and theyget reindeer antlers!Everyone who takes part gets a Santa medal and goodie bag to take home,so sign up now - visit www.swindonsanta.org.uk for further details andregistration.Fire station to host Christmas lunchPeople in the Trowbridge area who face being on their own thisChristmas Day can enjoy some festive fare at the town’s firestation!This will be the third year that Trowbridge firefighters have held aChristmas party for people on their own.WM Lucy May said: “Firefighters have to be on duty onChristmas Day, so I thought it would be nice to throw open thestation for people who might otherwise be on their own. We canprovide transport to and from the fire station if needed, and we’llbe serving Christmas dinner at midday. The last two years havebeen lovely, the people who came really enjoyed themselves.We just need people to book a place - numbers are limited, so itis very much first come, first served!”Volunteers to help prepare and serve the meal, talk to the guests, and provide entertainment during theafternoon, are also welcome to get in touch. Donations for the raffle would also be appreciated.If you would like to go along to the fire station on Christmas Day, or you know of someone who would –either as a guest or a helper – please email christmaslunch@wiltsfire.gov.ukAnnual carol serviceThis year’s carol service will be held on the evening of Thursday 12 December,starting at 7.30pm.Open to all personnel and their families, the service will again be held at StAndrew’s Church in Long Street, Devizes.Retired personnel and their families are also welcome to attend, and there willbe no requirement to wear uniform. Seasonal refreshments will be served in thechurch hall afterwards.If you would like to be involved in the service, please contact Julie Matthews - itwould also be helpful to know how many people are intending to attend, just forcatering purposes.November 2013 Issue 70

Systems Thinking update“…instead of targets, people need measures that lead to questions of method – how can we do thisbetter?” John Seddon*Systems thinkers in the Service have been working with membersof Management Board over the past few months to consider how wemeasure organisational performance.All systems thinking starts with identifying the Purpose of what we’redoing (from the customer’s perspective) and our Method of delivery.Measures of success should then be driven by this.A key systems thinking principle is that performance comes from studyingand redesigning the very way that work gets done, not from placingarbitrary targets.What does this mean for the Service?In line with this thinking, Wiltshire FRS is changing its approach to performance monitoringso that we only measure things that relate to our purpose and so that we think about ourperformance from a customer’s point of view.As a starting point, we went back to the fundamentals of why we need to measure, and systemsthinking identifies five basic concepts around this issue:• To understand current performance• As a basis for taking action to solve problems• To know when not to take action (this step is seen as a new approach)• To help predict the future and decide if it is the future we are aiming for• To drive and evaluate improvement effortsSo we are moving away from the traditional performance indicator ‘red, amber, green’ approachand towards charts that show data plotted in a time or sequenced order that enables us to spottrends, shifts in performance and unusual patterns.This means goodbye to traffic lights!How will we measure performance in future?Our performance reports in the future are likely to look something like the example on the nextpage, which is a ‘Process Behaviour Chart’.This type of measuring and reporting allows us to:• Recognise that performance operates continuously over time• Learn to distinguish between normal variation and clear signals of under/over performance• Use data to proactively drive improvementThe blue line in the example shows performance over time and the flat line (just above 150) indicates theaverage performance level.The red and green lines show usual upper and lower limits, i.e. where we would expect performancemonth-on-month to always be.Any points outside of these upper or lower limits tell us that something special or unusual has taken placeso efforts need to focus on what went particularly well or what problems occurred in these instances.November 2013 Issue 70

Systems thinking updateProcess behaviour chartDean Corbin, Performance and Analysis Manager, said: “It’s taken us a while to work out what we need tomeasure and this is still very much a ‘starter for ten’ which will continue to evolve between now and the endof this financial year.“To move forward and transform the Service, we need to properly understand our performance. In myexperience, managing by targets doesn’t give enough structure to detailed on-going analysis that feeds thisunderstanding. It is my aspiration that these new methods of monitoring performance will help us to achievethis.”For more information about systems thinking, visit www.systemsthinking.co.uk or contact Karen Vaughan(x5188) or Carol Molsher (x5133) to find out about the other resources and information available within theService.*John Seddon is an occupational psychologist, researcher, professor, management thinker and leadingglobal authority on change, specialising in the service industry. He is critical of target-based management,and of basing decisions on economies of scale, rather than "economies of flow". Seddon won the firstManagement Innovation Prize for 'Reinventing Leadership' in October 2010.Brownies enjoy station visitRed Watch Salisbury welcomed 1st Winterslow Brownies to thestation on 16 October to help them to achieve their fire safetybadge.As well as being given basic fire safety advice, the group wereshowed the PPE and heard how it protects firefighters onthe incident ground. They also looked around the applianceand had a go with the hose reel jet to finish off a very positiveevening.Leader Angela Russell has since written to say: “Thank you somuch for making us so welcome and giving us such a superevening at the fire station. The Brownies were so excited over their trip in the fire engine, being inside thestation and squirting the hoses! The evening also reinforced the importance of fire prevention and the otherthings they had learned whilst working for their fire safety badge.”November 2013 Issue 70

Christmas party at TDCThis year’s Children’s Christmas Party will be held at TDC on 15 December,starting at 12.30pm and finishing at 3.30pm.If you would like to bring along your children or grandchildren, please e-mailLucy May, Yasmine Ellis or Amanda Pieragostini with the names and agesof the young people and an address where Father Christmas can send theirinvitation. You will need to bring a wrapped labelled present for your child(ren)on the day.Helpers on the day or decorations ahead of the event would also be welcome– again, please email Lucy, Yasmine or Amanda if you can assist.Learning how to be preparedThe Service has been working with the British Red Cross to help people who come across or are involvedin road traffic collisions.The aim has been to educate people in what they can do in such circumstances, from giving first aid togetting the right emergency responses to the scene.Hosted at Salisbury fire station, the sessions have brought together people with a mix of ages andbackgrounds, with many coming from local military bases.Blue Watch supported the first session on 31 October, and simulated a road traffic collision with casualtiesso the students could better understand what happens before the emergency services arrive.WM Neil Hiscock explained: “It is very interactive, and we encourage the students to think about what theycould do in such a situation – what help is needed, what would assist the emergency services, what wouldmake the scene safer. We all hope we’d never be involved in a road crash, but it could happen, and we’d allrather be able to help than to feel overwhelmed.”Salamander helps job seekersThe second of eight Salamander courses due to be delivered in thisfinancial year in partnership with Job Centre Plus has taken place atTrowbridge, and the third concludes at Swindon on 8 November.Salamander was originally designed as a youth engagement programme,to steer young people away from anti-social behaviour. Those taking partwork with firefighters and tackle a variety of challenges that help to buildself-esteem, develop leadership skills and improve communication skills.The collaboration with Job Centre Plus has the same focus, but it is also hoped that those doing the coursewill see their motivation to find work increased. Salamander is intended as a stepping stone to futuresuccess and employment, whilst also educating the young people on their own safety and the safety ofothers.Each course allows time for the participants to gain nationally recognised qualifications in first aid andhealth & safety, which can be evidenced on job application forms and at interviews. There is also anemployment session, which includes interview advice provided by the Service’s HR department andemployer benefit incentives information provided by Job Centre Plus.To find out more about the Salamander collaboration with Job Centre Plus, contact Dawn Whiting on 01225756521 or dawn.whiting@wiltsfire.gov.ukNovember 2013 Issue 70

Partnership approach for ‘One Swindon’Swindon is one of nine areas in the country that have beenselected to pilot new ways for public sector partners to worktogether and achieve savings.The ‘One Swindon’ programme has brought together allpublic sector organisations working in the borough, togetherwith the business community and the voluntary sector.To deliver this, a Public Services Transformation Team hasbeen established, with officers brought in from the variouspartners to work with the Borough Council. GM Ian Jeary isrepresenting the Fire & Rescue Service and his secondmentwill continue until the end of this year, with the possibility of an extension into the Spring.He said: “We are all facing similar challenges, we all have the same financial pressures, and while not oneof us holds every answer, between us we can find solutions to a lot of issues. It won’t be easy, a lot of theproblems are very complex, especially around social care, but we are looking at long term behaviouralchange rather than quick fixes.”Other secondees have been drawn from the Department of Work and Pensions, Wiltshire Police, WiltshireProbation Trust and Swindon’s Clinical Commissioning Group.The team is developing a suite of business cases which support the range of ‘One Swindon’, partner andCouncil priorities. These were discussed by the ‘One Swindon’ Leadership Board - which includes CFOSimon Routh-Jones - last month and, as a result, the proposals have been grouped under the followingthemes:• Growing the economy• Safer communities• Reducing vulnerability• EnablersWork will now continue on the business cases, ready for the ‘One Swindon’ Leadership Board meeting inDecember, after which will be the implementation stage of the process.There will be an impact on how the Service operates, as Ian explains: “The outcomes of this will changehow we engage with our communities, as it will allow us more emphasis on proactive engagement work.We will also see more meaningful information sharing, which will have a positive effect on our preventionand protection work.”Further information is available at www.oneswindon.org.ukFire stations proving popular venuesDina La Vardera, support worker in community day servicesfor Age UK Wiltshire, has emailed to thank the Service forallowing the use of Calne Fire Station for a training session on2 October.She said: “Although many more turned up than we hadanticipated, we still had enough room for our activities and feltvery much at home. Having the screen on the wall also madethe PowerPoint presentation easy.”Calne is one of several stations made available for communityuse across the Service.November 2013 Issue 70

Thanks for nursery visitThe manager of Old School Nursery in GreatCheverell has written to thank the Service for itsinput into lessons.Rhona Welham said: “Just a quick note with ahuge ‘thank you’ for making our topic on vehiclesso special.“The visit from Maria Noke, Mike Cleaver andTom Brolan was fantastic. We learnt valuablelessons about matches and smoke alarms, andseeing a real fire engine was – as one child said –‘awesome’.“The highlight of the visit had to be sitting in thefire engine and squirting water out through a hose.The staff have appreciated the resources for theweek from your ‘elf’ box and we have had a greatweek learning important lessons about fire.”Register now for centenary bike rideRegistration is now open for a special challenge designed to raisemoney for charity and also mark the centenary of World War One.On 4 August next year – exactly 100 years after Britain declared waron Germany – the Unite & Bike For Heroes WWI Centenary Bike Ridewill set off from Folkestone, the major embarkation point of Britishforces.The ride will cover 325 miles, taking in the major battlefields,memorials and cemeteries in both France and Belgium, beforeconcluding in Paris – this will include riding as a group up the Champs Elysées and round the Arc deTriomphe, before gathering beneath the Eiffel Tower.Places for this challenge can be booked through the Fire Fighters Charity, in return for a £149 registrationfee and minimum sponsorship of £1,845. For more information, visit www.firefighterscharity.org.ukSad ending to horse rescueUnfortunately there was no happy ending for this horserecue in Whiteparish on 26 October.A crew from Salisbury and rural safety officer Tom Brolaninitially attended the scene, where a nine year old marewas trapped between two trees with one of her rear legscaught underneath her.The vet estimated she had been down for 24 hours – aspecialist animal rescue team was also mobilised fromHampshire, and while the mare was safely brought intothe open field, she wasn’t well enough to stand and thedecision was made to put her down.November 2013 Issue 70

And finally...Mr P of Shrivenham Road, Swindon made a donation to the FireFighters Charity after community safety technician Gary New undertooka home fire safety check.A donation of £50 has been received for the Charity from Mrs W ofSouth Street, Corsham after crews from Corsham attended her houseon 23 September after a carbon monoxide alarm operated. Her notethanked the crew for their “caring service”.Mrs H of West Ashton Road, Trowbridge has emailed to thank KenGriffin for the home fire safety check carried out on 29 October.A substantial donation has been received for the Fire Fighters Charityfrom the mother of Stratton firefighter Claire Parkes. She said: “Pleasefind enclosed a cheque for £250 in memory of Phil Harris, Claire'spartner, who died earlier this year. I am so grateful for all the Charity hasdone for Claire and I hope this small donation raised from car boot saleswill contribute to its good work."Pauline St John Osland, from the Henry Tyndale School in Farnborough, has written to staff in Fire Controlto thank them for collecting milk bottle tops. “Thank you to all of you who have helped with the collectionof milk bottle tops. Henry Tyndale is a special school and the tops have helped to raise a lot of cash to buywheelchairs. I have been advised that the collection of the tops is now to cease at the end of this month.Many, many thanks from myself and from the school.”Mr G of Beechfield Drive, Devizes has called to thank the crew from Devizes who attended a small fireinvolving an electric heater at his flat on 31 October. The reason for his call was to say how impressed hewas with the “efficiency, professionalism and cleanliness” of the firefighters, and he asked that his gratitudebe passed on to those who attended.Rachel Russell, Chair of the Friends of Crowdys Hill School, has written to thank the Stratton firefighterswho attended the fete held on 28 September. She said: “Everyone enjoyed your presence, especially whenyou had to rush off for a call out!”Ms H has sent a ‘thank you’ card for Red Watch at Stratton and Swindon, who came to her assistanceafter she was involved in an RTC on the Cricklade to Cirencester road on 19 September: “I can’t begin totell you how much I appreciate all you did for me after my accident, your patience, kindness and care wereoverwhelming.”The Mere Carnival Committee has made a donation to the Fire Fighters Charity by way of thanks to thefirefighters who provided first aid cover for the event. Carol Payne said: “Without your help, we were almostin the position where we would have had to cancel the carnival because of being let down a few daysbefore. Our insurance asks for qualified first aiders to attend – please give our thanks to all your crew.”Mrs B of Marlborough has made a donation to the Fire Fighters Charity after a home fire safety check byVince Kimber. Mrs W of Atworth and Mr G of Swindon did the same following visits by Ken Griffin; and Mr Nof Chippenham gave a donation after a visit by FF Steve Garraway.The HQ Christmas raffle has gained a bottle of wine, which was given to Dean Corbin after he delivereda fire safety talk to Redlynch WI. He also received a donation for the Fire Fighters Charity after a talk inChippenham. Melksham Link made a donation after a talk by Ken Griffin.Mr H of Atworth was so impressed by the “calm and efficient” service he received when his house wasflooded in September, he put a thank you note in the village magazine to praise the crew from Melksham.November 2013 Issue 70