[22 January 2007]

Queens Fire Service Medal.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service are delighted to announce that Keith Ring, who is currently on secondment with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Fire Services, has been awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal. The announcement was posted on the New Year Honours List and is the highest award that can go to a serving Fire Officer.

Keith Ring is the second, serving officer at East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service to receive the Queens Fire Service Medal, the other is Des Prichard, Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive.

The Queens Fire Service Medal was introduced in May 1954 and can be given for either meritorious service or bravery. In the case of Keith Ring, it was awarded for meritorious service for his outstanding contribution to worldwide aid.

Keith Ring has spent many years organising international rescue efforts. He has personally lead large numbers of Fire Officers from around the UK, who have volunteered to go to disaster sites around the world and rescue people from disasters such as earthquakes and floods. He has also made significant contributions to minimising the impacts of man-made and natural disasters, specifically focusing on the mass decontamination of casualties and reducing the effects of wide-scale flooding.

Keith joined East Sussex Fire & Rescue on 7th February 1979 as a Retained Firefighter based at Newhaven. His honour will be awarded at Buckingham Palace and presented directly to him by HM Queen Elizabeth II or a nominated representative of her family.

[Allison Gilson]