Harleston firefighters celebrates 30 years with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service

A Harleston firefighter has been recognised for his outstanding service over the past 30 years.

Simon Golby, 50, received a certificate from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service at a recent ceremony in Norwich.

He was 19 when he joined the service in his home town, and has dedicated his career to saving lives ever since.

But Simon, who is married to Joanne, and has two daughters, Georgia, 22, and Elise, 20, says the award is really for his family.

“Thirty years is quite a milestone. But really, this award is for me, my wife, my daughters, my family,” he said.

“It’s the wives that get left behind when we rush out of the door, leave a meal on the table, or go for a day out with the kids and have to leave. It has a big impact on life – that shouldn’t be underestimated.

“So, after 30 years, it really is an award for my family, as much as me.”

Simon first joined the fire service on a retained basis at Harleston in 1991. In 2005, he moved to Carrow Fire Station in Norwich but is still an on-call fireman in Harleston, in a dual role.

“I am based in Norwich but, when I am at home, I am on call in Harleston, with 12 other fireman, and we still receive around 150 calls a year to cover the town and surrounding areas.

“The local work is seasonal and this year we were our busiest for decades with the extreme weather.

“An incident which stands out in my memory from my time in Harleston is a big fire at the back of Browne’s Butchers. We were there for 20 minutes on our own.

“It affected three shops and four flats and was a very sad time for the town. But we did manage to save the butchers, which is a claim to fame.

“I have loved my career over the 30 years. You never know when the pager goes off what you are going to; whether it’s a paper bin fire, a car accident or an environmental incident, such as flooding.

“But the satisfaction of helping people, or saving someone’s life, is a fantastic feeling. Not many jobs can match that.”