Three firefighters, six police officers and two Islanders who have completed the demanding Duke of Edinburgh programme were presented with awards by the Lieutenant-Governor, General Sir John McColl.
Watch commander Larry Vibert, retained crew commander Craig Hartley and firefighter John Vautier each received the Fire Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Mr Vibert joined the service in 1995 as a retained firefighter, becoming a full-time member of staff two years later.
Mr Hartley has served for 20 years as a retained firefighter and has attended many large-scale emergencies, including the Broadlands fire in 2009.
Meanwhile Mr Vautier joined the service in 1995 and for the last nine years has carried out maintenance and repair work on the organisation’s breathing equipment.
Serving police officers – and husband and wife – Chief Inspector Chris Beechey and Sergeant Collette Beechey were among those receiving the police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal yesterday.
The couple have both served as police officers for 20 years after joining Avon and Somerset Police in 1995 and then the States police in 1998.
They were joined by colleagues Sergeant Leo Sheridan, who has served for 21 years, Sergeant Dean Machin who has served for 24 years, Detective Constable Alexandra Le Chevalier, who also has 21 years’ service, and Constable Paul Wilkinson, who joined the States police in 1991.
The final ‘gold level’ of the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme – a scheme that focuses on the personal development of skills, fitness and volunteering for young people – was also awarded to two Islanders at the ceremony. Jadine Ingram and Hanna Lawson both received their honours from Sir John.
