Five firemen from around the island have been awarded medals by Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney.

The group went to Government House to receive their long service and good conduct award which is presented after 20 years’ service.

The firemen honoured were Tony Duncan, station officer in the fire safety department at Douglas station, Jonathan Cover, firefighter at Peel fire station, Alan Clayton, firefighter at Castletown fire and ambulance combined station, Neil Garlick, leading firefighter at Castletown fire and ambulance combined station, and Allan Craine, leading firefighter at Kirk Michael fire station.

Allan Craine and Tony Duncan joined the fire service on February 1, 1996.

Jonathan Cover, Alan Clayton, and Neil Garlick joined on December 1, 1996.

Tony Duncan said afterwards: ’All five of us felt very privileged to receive their long service and good conduct medals from the Lieutenant Governor.’

Allan Craine said: ’I wanted to put something back into the community and I followed on from my uncle.

’We have a good bunch of lads in Kirk Michael station and it has been a privilege to work with them I felt really proud to accept the long service and good conduct medal from the governor and will cherish it for years to come.’

Jonathan Cover said: ’As I work and live in Peel I thought it would be something that I could do to serve the community.

’Getting my long service and good conduct medal for 20 years’ service made me extremely proud.

’I can’t believe 20 years have gone by already.’