A long serving on-call firefighter is leaving in a blaze of glory after more than 40 years in the job.

Dickie Heybourn has helped battle fires across the south of Bucks for over four decades but despite stepping off the ladder he remains a great example of the work on-duty firefighters do.

Having represented Aylesbury Fire Station since July 1974, he is well known across the county and his commitment to the cause was recognised recently when he received a long-service award from Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, Lord-Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire.

Some of Mr Heybourn’s colleagues from his tenure with Bucks Fire and Rescue have now thanked him for his hard work.

Watch Commander Lloyd Davis said: “It has been a pleasure to serve with Dickie, who has been a valued member for such a long time. It is hard to imagine Aylesbury On-Call without him.”

Station Commander Phill Mould said: “We all wish Dickie the best for the future and a well-earned rest.”

After leaving on-call duty (formerly known as Retained Duty System) he will continue to concentrate on his full-time job as a firefighter with the Ministry of Defence.

Bucks Fire and Rescue have been keen not only to praise on-call firefighters but the employers who agree to release their staff for duty.

Chief Fire Officer Mark Jones said: “We have always relied on the goodwill of businesses and employers, whether large or small, to release individuals for our on-call duty system, so it gave us great pleasure to recognise them in this way.”

If you are an employer who would consider releasing staff to work as on-call firefighters, please email Paul at pscanes@bucksfire.gov.uk, or Station Manager Jeremy Williams at jwilliams@bucksfire.gov.uk.

And, if you are interested in finding out more about becoming an on-call firefighter, please visit bucksfire.gov.uk/about-us/recruitments/retained-firefighters