Firefighter Harry Noon
When firefighter Harry Noon found himself caught up in a police pursuit he helped to apprehend a suspected thief.
Harry, an on-call firefighter and community safety officer at Rugeley Fire Station, was walking through the town when he saw a PCSO chasing a woman and decided to help.
The 27-year-old has been nominated as a Uniformed Hero in the Your Heroes Awards by Chief Fire Officer Rob Barber KFSM for going above and beyond his usual duties.
Rob said: “Harry was walking back towards Rugeley fire station when he saw a PCSO chasing a female into Phoenix Close. He was aware the close was a cul-de-sac so walked around the corner
to see if he could assist.
“He saw the officer lose his grip of the female so as she ran towards him he grabbed her. Harry was able to detain the female until the officer was able to restrain her.
“They brought her into the security of the fire station until a police vehicle was able to come and take the female to the police station. Harry offered water to the officer whilst waiting.
“Following on from the incident the PCSO advised that the female was suspected to have stolen items of clothing from a store in town and the PCSO had followed her through town. Once she noticed she was being followed she started to run. The woman was arrested and questioned at the police station.”
Harry said: “I’m lost for words that the Chief Fire Officer has nominated me for a Your Heroes Award. It’s an honour that it’s been recognised and it’s massively unexpected.”
Harry has worked for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for nearly two years,
He added: “The events that happened that day aren’t what firefighters would usually do or are trained to do.”
PC Venus Wakley
As the public face of Tamworth Police, PC Venus Wakley has adults thanking her for how she dealt with them in their teens and saying they’re on the straight and narrow because of her.
Venus has been the town centre officer for Tamworth for nearly 20 years and spends much of her time out in the community, liaising with various groups and being a visible police presence in the town.
She’s been praised for her commitment to Tamworth including her work to help Syrian refugees to settle into the town.
Councillor Tina Clements of Tamworth Borough Council has nominated Venus as a Uniformed Hero in the Your Heroes Awards.
She said: “Venus is the face of Tamworth Police that everyone recognises. She is so passionate about her job and always gives so much to the people of Tamworth.
“She is selfless in her role as a police officer and has a smile that makes you like her instantly. She inspires people to do more, always encouraging those less fortunate or down on their luck that there’s always tomorrow.
“She is hugely popular when on the beat and has respect from everyone, even when she’s telling them off.
“She is fanatical about change, especially with the youngsters and gives them the strength to be who they want to be.
“Venus always leads by example, championing the needs of others. She helped with Syrian refugees whilst they settled into Tamworth and made sure they were welcomed and felt at ease in our great country and the town of Tamworth.”
Venus said: “I’m shocked to be nominated for a Your Heroes Award and also honoured. I think it’s lovely that someone would take time out of their busy schedule to nominate me.”
She added: “I’ve had grown-ups come up to me and tell me they’re on the straight and narrow now, thanking me for how I dealt with them and apologising.
“I’m very passionate about Tamworth and the people that live here. We have people running the town down and I always say there are a lot of worse places.
“I just love my job and get a buzz from it, especially when I’m helping people. I deal with people from all walks of life and if I can help somebody then it’s a good outcome.”
Andy Buttery and Alf Wilson
From delivering aid to countries affected by natural disasters to restoring vintage fire engines, retired firefighters Andy Buttery and Alf Wilson still work tirelessly to support their former colleagues and the wider community.
Both men completed more than 30 years of public service with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and continue to play a significant role despite their retirement, including running a network for other retired firefighters.
They have been jointly nominated in the Uniformed Hero category of the Your Heroes Awards by Chief Fire Officer Rob Barber KFSM.
He said: “These two individuals conduct a considerable amount of voluntary work in support of others and exemplify the core characteristics of emergency services workers. As such I believe that they need to be recognised.”
Andy Buttery served Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service from September 1975 until his retirement in August 2010.
He runs the retired members network which provides support, advice and guidance to retired members of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. He writes a newsletter which goes out to all retired members and provides up to date information to his network. This is vital to many members as they get older.
Andy set up a living well group to provide wellbeing support to veterans. The group has gone from strength to strength and meets regularly at fire stations around the county providing information and support on subjects such as financial support, lasting power of attorney, healthy eating and dealing with grief.
Andy and colleagues have established and registered a charity to raise funds to restore
vintage fire appliances to make them available to local communities and to educate the next generation of firefighters.
During the pandemic he volunteered his time to support the service in the delivery of the vaccination programme.
Rob Barber said: “Andrew is the epitome of the fire and rescue service values and is a valuable member of the team even though he retired a number of years ago. The value that he adds to our service is immense.”
Alf Wilson has dedicated most of his adult life to the service of others. He started his career with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service in April 1979 and completed 30 years of service.
Once retired he continued to support others and remained the chair of the SESHAA, a group that has worked all over the world providing humanitarian aid and support to countries affected by conflict or natural disaster. He has coordinated trips and been tenacious in gathering equipment and supplies to deliver to countries.
Alf was a Founder Member and Chair of SESHAA from 1995 to 2018. He then handed over the Chair and took on the role of project manager/advisor. He has now been doing humanitarian aid work internationally since his first visit to Russia in March 1993. Between 2012 to 2014 SESHAA was in Bangladesh supplying vehicles and equipment to Kenya. 2015 saw SESHAA become founding members of FIREAID, a new organisation in the fire and rescue service community. In 2015 SESHAA was involved in a project in Tajikistan. He undertook a joint scoping visit in March 2015, with FIREAID members, to look at assistance and support for the Fire and Rescue Service, Health Service and Police. He was part of a FIREAID team that delivered a £40,000 donation of medical and firefighting equipment. The visit also involved a fact-finding expedition into the Khorog region of the Pamir Mountains, where he and the team looked at the need for a 4×4 rescue vehicle and Mountain, RTC and Mud rescue equipment. The equipment was delivered in a convoy from the UK to Tajikistan, some 4,261 miles.
Alf recently assisted in the setting up of a living well group. The group meets regularly and provides support and comfort to those that have been finding life difficult, again volunteering in his own time to support others. He is always at the centre of organising speakers and outside support.
He has also supported Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service in many ways as a volunteer and assisted throughout the pandemic despite going through some very difficult personal issues at the time.
Rob Barber said: “Alf has delivered such great outcomes within some really hostile environments and has done this for so many years, putting the needs of others above his own.”
Andy Buttery said: “I was very surprised to be nominated for a Your Heroes Award. It came as a bit of a shock. It’s a great honour to be recognised by the Chief Fire Officer.”
Alf Wilson was on an overseas mission at the time of the nomination and said that he was both surprised and delighted.
Jonathan Norbury
Paramedic Jonathan Norbury dedicates his free time to teaching children martial arts, self-defence and essential life skills.
The 43-year-old from Kingsley, who is the over-40s world champion in Ju Jitsu, teaches at the non-profit organisation Tatsu Dojo in Draycott. He has won numerous accolades for his work raising awareness of mental health and self-defence as well as passing on skills in the sport he is so passionate about.
His story began 39 years ago when he caught the martial arts bug from his father. 12 years later, aged 16, he decided to become a coach and pass on his expertise to others.
His coaching led him to relocate to Surrey where he coached at the Youth Games. He was awarded Coach of the Year in 2004. Since then, and alongside a return to Staffordshire, he has coached numerous people to both national and international levels.
It’s not only high-performance athletes who Jonathan supports, quite the opposite. He and his team have made it part of their remit to support all those who want to get into martial arts.
He said: “A lot of clubs focus on the elite athletes, whereas we try and have an open-door policy for everyone. We find where people’s interests lie, what they are good at, and harness that interest by supporting them regardless of their level.
“What we teach are the fundamentals so that if there is a dangerous situation, we will have educated them to a standard where they would be able to defend themselves. I think these skills are vital in the modern day.”
All of this work is against the backdrop of his full-time job as a paramedic.
He said: “It can get pretty exhausting inevitably; however, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m not only passionate about martial arts but also about those who I directly impact through my coaching.”
Tara Burndred teaches martial arts alongside Jonathan and has nominated him for a Your Heroes Award.
She said: “Jonathan is helping children learn skills to stay safe and overcome lack of confidence, self-esteem and bullying. He has been invaluable to the Tatsu team and we think he deserves this recognition.”
Jonathan added: “It’s always nice to be recognised; however this isn’t why I do what I do. I have knowledge, skills and expertise and I only think it’s right that I should share that with the future generation.”