When firefighter Jed Boyle joined the brigade as part-time fireman in 2008, he hadn’t passed his driving test and had to respond to daytime fire calls on his push bike.
Until Jed, 20, got his licence in April 2010, mum Trudy played a vital role in helping him get to dangerous nighttime blazes by driving him to Banbury fire station.
On Tuesday, May 11, the county council’s Fire and Rescue Service sprung a surprise thank you on Trudy by making her an honorary crew member, in recognition of ‘outstanding nocturnal service to the community of Banbury’.
Under the pretence of attending an open evening for firefighters’ families, Mrs Boyle was presented with a certificate honouring her as a member of the 01 Banbury Retained Fire Crew. Office administrator Trudy, 44, said: “Sometimes I would have to go out two or three times a night.”
“With a call you have to be there (at the station) in seven minutes. During the day he could do that on his bike. At night though, when the bleeper went off you just have to get up and go, I would go in my dressing gown and slippers and get him down there.”
The special appointment was authorised by John Parry, Oxfordshire County Council’s Chief Fire Officer. Darran Gough, Oxfordshire County Council’s Watch Manager at Banbury Fire Station, said: “We would all like to thank Trudy very much for her help over the past years and wish her many undisturbed nights in the future, so long as Jed doesn't slam the door as he responds.”
Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “This special appointment is a lovely gesture and recognises the amazing support Mrs Boyle has given to her son and to our Fire and Rescue Service over the last 18 months. It is a shining example of the vital role played by family, friends, employers and colleagues in enabling our retained fire crews to respond to emergency calls day and night.”
