End of an era for firefighters

Shipston Fire Station has concluded its on-call operations. On 31st December, the station’s final four on-call firefighters honourably returned their alerting equipment and kit, marking the end of an era of dedicated service to the community which has run continuously with an on-call retained fire crew since 1948. Chris Townsend, the now former Watch Manager, recalls his time in service.

‘Throughout my time in the service, I’ve attended numerous incidents and had the privilege of working alongside many dedicated crew members, each leaving their mark as they came and went. I hold many fond memories of the experiences shared and the camaraderie built over the years. Following a promotion in 2016 to Crew Manager, I was later honoured to take on the role of Watch Manager at Shipston in 2019, a position that brought both pride and challenges, particularly around recruitment. Balancing over 80 hours of weekly cover with a full-time job is demanding, especially during periods of high operational activity. This level of commitment, while a testament to dedication, had understandably impacted overall staffing levels and ultimately contributed to the decision to close on-call operations at Shipston.’

Shipston Fire Station will remain on Telegraph Street and is due to be operated as a Resilience Station. This means it may be crewed during busy periods of high demand but will no longer be responding to primary incidents, such as road traffic collisions or building fires, as the initial attending unit. Going forward, emergency cover for the Shipston area will be provided by Stratford-upon-Avon and Wellesbourne fire stations.

‘I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to the community of Shipston and the surrounding villages for the unwavering support you’ve shown over the years,’ says Chris. ‘Whether engaging with us at community fetes, or simply offering a warm drink during incidents, your kindness has never gone unnoticed. As this chapter comes to a close, I will truly miss serving our town, a role I’ve been proud to hold for over 17 years.’