Praise for Rotherham's top firefighters

Award winners from Rotherham blazed a trail among the region’s top firefighters as they gathered for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s annual awards ceremony.

Crews and individuals from across the borough were honoured at the awards which were hosted by the town’s World Cup Final referee, Howard Webb, at Barnsley Metrodome.

Rotherham Fire Station’s Gary Willoughby scooped the Firefighters’ Team Player of the Year Award and the station’s White Watch emerged with the Crew of the Year award.

Community members were also rewarded for their efforts to help improve fire safety in the borough.

The Cortonwood Comeback Community Centre landed a Best Community Partner accolade, while Ray Smith, formerly of Rotherham-based RIMS Driving School, was awarded a special award as the force’s Best Business Partner.

Ray teamed up with SYFR for a four-year scheme to help improve road safety among drivers aged 17 to 24 with his hard-hitting Drive For Life Campaign.

A spokesman for SYFR this week paid tribute to White Watch from Rotherham Fire Station for their “all round contribution to keeping local residents safe” before singling out Team Player of the Year, Gary Willoughby, for special praise.

He said: “Gary’s devotion to his job is second-to-none.

“He is a valued member of the watch and his vast knowledge of all aspects of the job is an asset to all watch members, especially the trainees who he readily takes under his wing.”