Crew manager Dru Lunney and firefighter Craig Haines
Firefighters helped to save the life of a 13-year-old found in distress on a railway bridge.
Crew manager Dru Lunney and firefighter Craig Haines from orange watch at Longton Fire station have been thanked by police and have received a Chief Fire Officer Commendation in recognition of their actions on February 28.
They have now been nominated in the Uniformed Hero category of the Your Heroes Awards by the senior team at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
They were driving past a railway bridge in Stone when they saw a teenager sitting with his legs hanging over the track side of the bridge.
Concerned that stopping their fire and rescue service vehicle directly beside him might startle him and cause him to fall, they made the decision to park a short distance away and approach on foot.
At the same time, a passing member of the public was able to pull the 13-year-old back to safety from the bridge.
Dru and Craig remained with the teenager until police arrived. They were able to gain his trust and obtain initial information which they shared with police officers when they arrived the scene.
A police officer who attended the incident said: “The rapport they established ensured he stayed with them and felt safe until he could be taken into appropriate care.
“I am genuinely grateful for their swift, compassionate and professional actions, which undoubtedly contributed to preventing what could have been a tragic outcome.”
Firefighters Scott Leigh, Liam Steele, Lewis Matthews and Jamie Findley
Firefighters helped save the life of a man who had collapsed after they were flagged down on their way back from dealing with a grass fire.
Firefighters Scott Leigh, Liam Steele, Lewis Matthews and Jamie Findley from orange watch at Biddulph Fire Station were passing Biddulph Leisure Centre on June 26 when they spotted a member of staff urgently looking for help outside the building.
They discovered a member of the public had collapsed while taking part in a sports activity inside the centre and were able to give him lifesaving support until the Air Ambulance arrived.
The man spent six days in intensive care at the Royal Stoke University Hospital but is on track to make a full recovery and has been able to visit the fire station to thank the crew personally.
Firefighters Scott Leigh, Liam Steele, Lewis Matthews and Jamie Findley have received Chief Fire Officer Commendations and have now been nominated in the Uniformed Hero category of the Your Heroes Awards.
A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “A crew from Biddulph Fire Station responded to a grass fire in the local area. After concluding the incident they were returning to the station via Biddulph Leisure Centre when they noticed a member of staff urgently seeking assistance outside the building.
“The crew stopped and were informed that a member of the public had collapsed inside the centre. The crew immediately went to assist. The firefighters involved were Scott Leigh, Liam Steele, Lewis Matthews and Jamie Findlay. They provided lifesaving care to the casualty until the arrival of the air ambulance.
“The man was subsequently transported to Royal Stoke University Hospital, where he spent six days in intensive care. I am pleased to report that he has made a strong recovery and, on August 4 he returned to Biddulph Fire Station to personally thank the crew for their actions.”
PC James Seymour and PC James Conn
PCs James Seymour and James Conn were the first police at the scene of a violent incident involving machetes, a chainsaw and a hostile crowd of up to 70 people.
As a direct result of their courage and decisive actions a dangerous offender was detained, a stabbing victim received urgent assistance, a chainsaw was recovered as evidence, and three individuals were ultimately arrested for a number of serious offences.
PCs Seymour and Conn have been nominated in the Uniformed Hero category of the Your Heroes Awards by senior officers at Staffordshire Police in recognition of their actions at the incident in Chell Heath on May 20.
A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: “I am honoured to nominate PC James Seymour and PC James Conn in recognition of their outstanding courage, selflessness and professionalism during a highly dangerous firearms deployment.
“The officers were deployed as the Northern Armed Response Vehicle following reports that informants were being pursued by individuals armed with machetes. From the outset, the information available was fragmented and rapidly evolving. The initial emergency call was chaotic, with sounds of significant disorder in the background and very little reliable information available to accurately assess the threat.
“Recognising the potential severity of the incident, the Force Incident Manager declared a firearms deployment and tasked PC Seymour and PC Conn as the nearest armed unit. At the time of deployment, they were operating ahead of the remainder of the firearms team, who were a considerable distance away.
“As they travelled to the scene, the threat level continued to escalate. Additional information indicated that a male was now brandishing a chainsaw as a weapon, presenting an obvious and immediate lethal threat to anyone in the vicinity.
“Further updates then reported a stabbing at a neighbouring street and a large-scale violent disturbance described as “all hell breaking loose”. Reports also emerged suggesting that a suspect may have been in possession of a firearm. By the time the officers arrived, they were confronted with an exceptionally volatile and dangerous situation.
“On arrival, PC Seymour and PC Conn found themselves as the only police officers present facing a hostile crowd estimated at around 70 people. The crowd was aggressive, volatile and emotionally charged. Multiple suspects were believed to be outstanding with access to machetes, a chainsaw and potentially a firearm. The location of the stabbing victim remained unknown and there was no certainty as to whether further victims or armed offenders remained within the area.
“Despite these extraordinary risks and with no immediate support available, both officers placed the safety of the public and the preservation of life above their own personal safety.
“Witnesses directed officers towards a specific address believed to be connected to the incident. Despite repeated attempts, there was no response from inside the premises and the welfare of any occupants was unknown. Faced with credible reports of serious violence, a stabbing and armed suspects, PC Seymour made the courageous decision to undertake a single-officer emergency search of the address in order to establish whether there were injured persons requiring immediate assistance. This was an exceptionally brave action.
“PC Seymour entered the property alone, knowing that individuals linked to reports of machetes, a chainsaw and a possible firearm could still be inside. He had no way of knowing whether he was about to encounter victims in need of urgent assistance or violent offenders willing to use lethal force. Nevertheless, his overriding concern was for the preservation of life.
“At the same time, PC Conn remained outside the address to protect the scene and prevent the large hostile crowd from entering. Although armed, he faced the daunting prospect of maintaining control against approximately 70 aggressive individuals, any of whom could have attempted to overwhelm or disarm him. Remaining isolated and exposed, with knowledge that armed suspects remained unaccounted for, required immense personal courage and resolve. His actions prevented the situation from deteriorating further and allowed the emergency search to continue.
“Inside the property, PC Seymour encountered an aggressive male who repeatedly refused to comply with the instructions of an armed police officer. Demonstrating exceptional judgement under pressure, PC Seymour quickly assessed that the male was not in possession of a weapon and transitioned from armed containment to unarmed tactics in order to gain control. In doing so, he exposed himself to significant personal risk, including the possibility of being overpowered and disarmed while operating alone in an unsecured environment.
“The male was subsequently identified as the individual who had been in possession of the chainsaw and who had stabbed another male present at the address.
“Continuing his search, PC Seymour located the stabbing victim in the rear garden. Immediate first aid was provided, ensuring that potentially life-saving treatment commenced as quickly as possible. The chainsaw was also recovered from the scene as evidence.
“Only after these critical actions had been completed were additional Armed Response Vehicles, Dog Section officers and local policing colleagues able to arrive and assist in securing the scene.
“The bravery displayed by both officers throughout this incident was exceptional. They knowingly entered and controlled an environment where intelligence suggested the presence of machetes, a chainsaw and a firearm. They faced overwhelming numerical disadvantage, with just two officers confronting a hostile crowd of around 70 individuals. They acted decisively despite the very real risk of serious injury or death, placing the protection of the public, the preservation of life and the apprehension of violent offenders above their own safety.
“As a direct result of their courage and decisive actions, a dangerous offender was detained, a stabbing victim received urgent assistance, a chainsaw was recovered as evidence and three individuals were ultimately arrested for a number of serious offences.
“PC James Seymour and PC Jamie Conn demonstrated extraordinary bravery, composure and professionalism in circumstances that would test even the most experienced officers. Their actions exemplify the very highest standards of policing and make them exceptionally worthy recipients.”
PC Adam Platt
An off-duty policeman rushed to the aid of a security guard cornered by a shoplifter he believed to be armed with a knife.
Despite being off duty with no PPE or stab vest, he overpowered the man, brought him to the floor and restrained him for 20 minutes until reinforcements arrived.
PC Adam Platt has now been nominated in the Uniformed Hero category of the Your Heroes Awards by senior officers at Staffordshire Police.
A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: “I submit this for a Your Heroes Award given Adam’s quick reaction and selfless act of tackling a violent offender, whom he thought had a knife. Adam showed great bravery, courage and quick decision making in responding to the threat and risk he saw that day, as he has done so many time throughout his career.
“The fact that there was no knife in no way diminishes how Adam responded to an honest held belief that a member of the public was in grave danger. Adam honestly believed the male had a large knife and still selflessly put himself at risk to protect others. His actions were brilliant that day and I believe he should be formally recognised for them.”
On April 7 Adam was on the first day of a period of annual leave. He was in his car in Victoria Road, Fenton when he saw a male shoplifter running from the ASDA supermarket.
The police spokesperson said: “To put the what happened next into context it is important to remember the Adam was off duty, with no personal protective equipment or stab vest and he was with his wife. Initially due to these factors Adam began to make a phone call to the police control room to report a crime in progress. However after a few seconds Adam saw that the security guard had the shoplifter cornered in a nearby car park.
“Adam then witnessed the male offender confront the lone security guard aggressively and he then observed the offender pull an item out an item from his clothing, which as the item caught the sunlight looked to Adam like a large knife.
“It was at this point that without hesitation and with little thought for his own personal safety Adam told his wife to get into the car and wait for him, so that she would be safe. Adam then courageously ran across the road straight over to the security guard and offender on the car park.
“Adam bravely and without any PPE to protect him from the large knife, challenged the male, arrested him and was able to skillfully use reasonable force to overpower him and take him to the floor before restraining him with arm and ground restraints until on duty colleagues arrived.
“Thanks to Adam’s bravery the security guard was then able to call the police, albeit this left Adam restraining the male whom he thought had a knife for around 20 minutes. This is a very long time to physically restrain someone who is aggressive, during which time Adam was in constant risk from the knife.
“Upon arrival of colleagues the male was conveyed to custody where it was further discovered he was already wanted for two other offences.
“After the struggle Adam realised that the male didn’t in fact have a knife, however the item that he saw catch the sun was in fact a stolen bottle of wine which was smashed on the floor during the struggle. This broken bottle could easily have been used by the offender to cause significant injury to Adam or the security guard if he had not acted so quickly.”
Members of Stafford Local Policing Team
Members of Stafford Local Policing Team helped to prevent a serious injury or death by stopping a woman from falling from a bridge onto the M6 motorway.
They held her arm and legs and at one point took her full bodyweight when she became unconscious.
The team involved have been nominated in the Uniformed Hero category of the Your Heroes Awards by senior officers at Staffordshire Police. They include Sgt Ewan Lunn, Sgt Lewis Hodgkiss, PC Blake Fox, PC Rick Shingler, PC Victoria Knowles, PC Kyle Cooper, PC Akash Hussain and PC Lucy Priest.
They were called to reports of a woman on a bridge over the M6 through Staffordshire.
A police spokesperson said: “The female was the wrong side of the barrier over the M6 Motorway and was being held by a member of the public. Officers have attended and have begun to engage with the female who was visibly upset and clearly in crisis.
“The dynamics quickly changed when the female had begun to lean forward, actively attempting to fall from the bridge.
“Officers have immediately taken a grip of the female holding both her arm and legs. At one point she has lost consciousness and officers have been required to hold her full bodyweight to prevent her from falling.
“With quick thinking from the officers, they have used this as an opportunity to drag the female over the barrier to safety.
“The incident was both physically and mentally demanding. The officers have demonstrated the upmost professionalism and dynamic decision making throughout.
“This could certainly have resulted in serious injury or even a fatality, but their swift actions meant the female was brought to safety. I believe that this excellent piece of police work deserves some recognition.”
Civvie Street Cafe
Tri-Services Support Centre is opening a new community café, training space and social hub in the centre of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Civvie Street Café has grown from Tri-Services’ work with the Armed Forces community but its services will be open to everyone.
It will provide a place where veterans, younger people, families and members of the wider community can meet, learn and feel that they belong. A core part of the project will be practical training and workplace experience for younger veterans and local young people aged 16 to 24 years.
The owner of the building in Ironmarket, in the centre of Newcastle-under-Lyme, has committed to the use of the space for the next 10 years.
Tri-Services Support Centre is now at the stage of putting together artists’ impressions of the space it wants to create and has put out an appeal for businesses and skilled trades to help make the vision a reality.
Civvie Street Café has been nominated in the Uniformed Hero category of the Your Heroes Awards in anticipation of the impact the project will have.
Julie Billingham of Tri-Services Support Centre said: “We have put a call out for skilled trades and have several visualisations showing what we hope to create at 39 Ironmarket: a welcoming community café, a practical training environment and a flexible room for learning, meetings, music and community activities. The images are intended to illustrate the vision rather than a final design.
“Although the project has grown from Tri-Services Support Centre’s work with the Armed Forces community, Civvie Street will be open to everyone. It will provide a place where veterans, younger people, families and members of the wider community can meet, learn and feel that they belong.”
Anthony Frith
Former soldier Anthony Frith has spent three years campaigning and fundraising for a memorial dedicated to three of his comrades who were killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.
Now aged 42 and the Chairman of the Staffordshire County Royal British Legion, Tamworth-born Anthony was just 17 years old when he joined The Staffordshire Regiment.
On July 16, 2005 he was out on patrol in Al Amarah, Iraq when a roadside bomb killed his friends Lt Richard Shearer, aged 26, Private Leon Spicer, aged 26, and Private Phillip Hewett, aged 21. Two others were wounded.
Wind forward 21 years and on April 11, 2026, a memorial to The Staffordshire Three with an adjoining statue of Watchman was unveiled in the grounds of Tamworth Castle.
The unveiling was the culmination of more than three years of fundraising, campaigning, coordination and collaboration with families, communities and Tamworth Borough Council.
The memorial is entitled Oaths Taken, Oaths Fulfilled and incorporates three Staffordshire Knots, three bayonets and the Prince of Wales’s plumes and coronet. It is a place where Anthony hopes people can remember, pause and reflect. It is dedicated to his friends and to the remembrance of all who have served.
Anthony has been nominated in the Uniformed Hero category of the Your Heroes Awards by Colonel Tim Sandiford OBE, the last commanding officer of The Staffordshire Regiment, in recognition of being the driving force behind the memorial.
Colonel Tim said: “It was he who first had the idea to create a memorial and place of reflection, he who started the fundraising campaigns and participated in so many of the events to raise the £50,000 to make the idea a reality.
“It was Anthony who gathered together a team of volunteers to support the idea, he who led the social media and awareness campaigns, identified and through his passion and commitment gained the support of the sculptor, persuaded Tamworth Borough Council to allow the memorial to be built and saw it through to completion culminating in the parade and unveiling by Professor Liz Barnes CBE in her role as Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire.
“The unveiling was the culmination of more than two and a half years of dedication and effort. In addition to this remarkable effort, Anthony has had to pursue his own career as a freelance site manager in the construction industry and has found the time to meet the wide ranging and time-consuming role of Chairman of the Staffordshire County Royal British Legion.
“At Your Heroes, we often see larger sums raised and incredible feats of physical endurance to raise awareness of causes. This nomination is not about the numbers. Anthony is worthy of Your Heroes recognition because this amazing achievement is an incredible example of service, selflessness, commitment, resilience and determination.
“To pursue the idea was in itself remarkable, showing both vision and courage – many a regimental HQ and charity has fallen at this first step considering there to be too many hurdles in the way.
“He publicly and openly embarked upon this venture with no senior patronage and no guarantee of success. To achieve that vision on behalf of his friends, all service personnel and the families of the fallen was a humbling demonstration of selflessness and commitment to his comrades. I, for one, am proud to know him.”
Anthony said: “The fact that Colonel Tim has thought about nominating me is amazing. There’s a whole group of us and I still say that the whole team are the people that add the value. I’m just the facilitator.
“I’d been sitting on this idea for about eight years and hadn’t has the confidence to go through with it. You always think someone else is going to do it and they don’t.”
Anthony has been volunteering for 40 to 50 hours each week alongside his full-time job in the construction industry.
He added: “The support that I’ve received from Team Watchman – Greg, Mandy and the boys – has been amazing.”