A CAREER spanning 30 years sees a lot of change and for Ken some of it has been vital safety equipment right down to the shoes on his feet.

Kenneth Dalby has retired from his role as a retained firefighter at Dovercourt Fire Station after 30 years in the role.

For much of that time he worked in the town at PPM Albro and would on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The 62-year-old has seen the best and worst of the job.

He said: "Years ago it was much more militarised.

"You used to wear a uniform with a cap and a tie and have it ironed and the shoes polished and stand to attention.

"Nowadays it's much more relaxed and it's taken away the prestige of the job.

"You had 20 hours of training and you still have that now but it's slightly different - they now have to go to a centre.

"Years ago we had more firefighters on call and there was more flexibility in when you were available.

"Nowadays they are much stricter, or seem to be, on what you are committing."

Changes have been made to the style of clothes as well as the material.

Ken added: "They used to be rubber boots and rubber leggings - they used to melt in the heat.

"Now they are fireproof.

"Things have changed, though not all for the better."

Dovercourt Fire Station currently has a day-time crew manning the station from 9am to 5pm the on-call firefighters.

A recruitment drive is ongoing to get more retained crew for when the station goes fully on-call in two year - a move that has been controversial.

Ken said: "The idea of on-call is to get there in five minutes, from being sound asleep to the appliance in five minutes.

"It's a very good job for somebody that is capable, someone who wants to get an adrenalin rush even now and again.

"When that alert goes off, you drive down the road and you don't know what you are going to until you get there.

"If you want a bit of excitement in your life, you get paid for it and get that team.

"You aren't on your own, you are never at anything on your own."

Ken, a father of four and a grandfather, now lives in Harwich Road, Little Oakley and says the time was right to retire his on-call duties.

The project manager for a machine labelling company has been into burning buildings, fought house fires, rescued horses from ditches and crashes.

He added: "I've seen deaths through fires and road traffic accidents.

"We are there to save them - the main thing is to save lives and that's what you are there to try and do.

"It does affect some people."

Essex Fire Service has thanked Ken for his commitment.

Station manager Scott Meekings said: “Kenneth has been a valuable asset to the Dovercourt community, giving 30 years dedicated service to the on-call team at Dovercourt Fire Station.

“Ken’s responsibilities involved managing local firefighter training and mentoring new recruits, to attending a vast array of operational incidents ranging from small bin fires, to serious house fires, up to large ferry fires at Harwich International Port – and everything in-between.

“30 years commitment to being an on-call firefighter shouldn’t ever go uncelebrated.

"It is a highly admirable achievement, one that I am sure the local communities would support me in thanking Kenneth and his family for his time served.

“We are currently recruiting on-call firefighters at Dovercourt. So, if anyone is interested in becoming a firefighter like Kenneth, to serve and support their local community, then please visit join.essex-fire.gov.uk”