The King has honoured the longest-serving firefighter in West Sussex, awarding Andy Horner a British Empire Medal (BEM).
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crew Manager Andy Horner has been recognised in the King’s birthday honours for his long service in the fire and rescue service.
“Following a career spanning five decades at West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Andy has received the British Empire Medal in recognition of his dedicated service to the local community.”
He said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious award. It has been an honour to serve within West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service for the last 52 years and it is a job that I have thoroughly enjoyed doing.
“I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my family, my wife Bernice, children Nicholas, Peter and Bethan, and a host of loyal colleagues.”
The fire service said: “Andy joined Selsey Fire Station as a retained firefighter on Thursday 1 March 1973 and has since served alongside his wife and two sons who also pursued careers in the service.
“After 18 months at Selsey, Andy then became a wholetime firefighter and served the communities of Worthing, Horley and Chichester, as well as working for the service’s training team.
“In 2013, Andy then retired from his wholetime role as a Group Manager for the Chichester district and returned to Selsey Fire Station as a retained Crew Manager.
“Throughout his lengthy career Andy has attended notable incidents such as the fire at Uppark House in 1989, the 1994 Chichester flooding and the Selsey Academy fire in 2016.”
Chief Fire Officer Sabrina Cohen-Hatton said: “Andy is our longest serving firefighter in West Sussex and I am delighted that his hard work, commitment and selflessness over the last 52 years have been recognised with this award.
“Andy has dedicated his life to serving our local communities and is thoroughly deserving of this recognition.”
Councillor Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for community support, fire and rescue, said: “I am pleased that Andy’s achievements have been formally recognised in the shape of the British Empire Medal.
“On behalf of the county council, I congratulate him for receiving this honour. We are incredibly grateful to Andy for the fantastic work he has done to keep West Sussex safe during his long and dutiful career.”
