Photo: MAWWFARS
A long-serving Tenby firefighter has been recognised for more than three decades of dedication to both the Fire and Rescue Service and the local community.
Watch Manager Jeremy Lees, known to many as “Jez”, of Tenby Fire Station, has received a special award from the High Sheriff of Dyfed in recognition of his outstanding service to the community and his significant contribution to firefighting across Pembrokeshire.
The honour comes as Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service celebrates 30 years of serving communities across the region, reflecting on the people who have helped shape the organisation’s past, present and future.
Jeremy began his firefighting career at Tenby Fire Station in 1992, several years before the creation of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service in 1996. Over the course of a distinguished career spanning 34 years, he has witnessed and contributed to the transformation of the service from its local brigade roots into the modern organisation it is today.
Through years of dedication, professionalism and commitment to helping others, Jeremy progressed through the ranks to become Watch Manager at the very station where his career began.
Throughout his service, he has become a familiar and respected figure in the Tenby community, taking part in fundraising events, attending Tenby Carnival, supporting car washes and helping to organise open days that engage residents with the work of the Fire and Rescue Service.
Chief Fire Officer Craig Flannery paid tribute to Jeremy’s achievements.
He said: “I have known Jeremy for 20 years and am absolutely thrilled that he has been recognised in this way by the High Sheriff for his outstanding service to the community.
“Jeremy’s dedication and enthusiasm, whether through fundraising events, Tenby Carnival attendance, car washes or open days, is the epitome of a modern Fire Service staff member and I wish him well in all future endeavours.”
The award highlights not only Jeremy’s commitment to public service but also the vital role firefighters play within their communities beyond emergency response.
As Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service marks its 30th anniversary, Jeremy’s recognition serves as a reminder that the strength of the organisation lies in the dedication of its personnel and their ongoing commitment to keeping communities safe.
Congratulating him on the award, the Service described the achievement as one he should be “extremely proud of”, thanking him for his years of dedication, commitment and service.
