Double celebration as locals lift NIFRS Employee Awards

Interim Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, Dale Ashford, Jackie Childs with
Carmel McKinney, Chairperson of the NIFRS Board — Interim Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, Dale Ashford, Jackie Childs with Carmel McKinney, Chairperson of the NIFRS Board

During the awards ceremony at Lisburn’s Island Centre, Jackie Childs and Rosemary Sheppard were each Highly Commended for outstanding individual achievement.

Both women are employed at Norther Ireland Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in Lisburn.

Jackie, a Stores Officer, was described as having a strong work ethic and positive attitude.

Carmel McKinney, Chairperson of the NIFRS Board, and Rosemary Sheppard and Interim Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Dale Ashford.

She is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Stores Shop Floor, dealing with customers and suppliers and managing the issue of new kit to firefighters across Northern Ireland.

Rosemary works in the Emergency Response Department. She has worked with the NIFRS for more than 35 years and was nominated for her level of excellence, enthusiasm and dedication to NIFRS during her career.

She was hailed an integral part of the Emergency Response Department at HQ , where she provides administration support to the team to ensure all projects are completed to as high a standard as possible.

Dale Ashford, Interim Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, said: “I am extremely proud of the achievements of all our staff who received an Employee Award.

“This was our opportunity to celebrate the success of our people and to say thank-you to them for their hard work, professionalism and commitment.

“They are a credit to NIFRS and are representative of the many individuals and teams, from across the organisation, who work hard on a daily basis to provide the best possible fire and rescue service to the people of Northern Ireland.”