Cheshire Firefighter Honoured with British Empire Medal for Outstanding Charity Work

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has announced that Crew Manager Stuart Plaskett has been awarded the prestigious British Empire Medal in recognition of his exceptional fundraising efforts and unwavering dedication to the Fire Fighters Charity.

Stu, who lives in Knutsford with his wife and three sons, currently serves at Knutsford Fire Station. With 31 years of service across numerous stations in the county Stu has been a pillar of dedication within CFRS.

Since taking on the voluntary role of CFRS Fundraising Coordinator for the Charity in 2016, Stu has led the Service in raising an extraordinary £683,000 through a wide range of activities, including car washes, sporting events, clothes recycling bins on stations and activities at fire station open days.

Chief Fire Officer Alex Waller said:

"I started my career with Stu so I couldn’t be prouder of him and his dedication to the Fire Fighters Charity and helping others. His tireless work has made a real difference to the lives of his colleagues and firefighters in need of the services of the Charity from across the country, but also all their families who can also access support. We are all incredibly proud to see him recognised with this well-deserved medal."

Stu’s leadership and devotion was especially vital during the COVID-19 pandemic, when traditional fundraising efforts were halted. Thanks to his determination and coordination, CFRS raised £55,000 in 2020 and £44,000 in 2021, helping to sustain the Charity during a time of great uncertainty.

Sherine Wheeler, Chief Executive, Fire Fighters Charity, said:

"We’re thrilled to see Stu recognised with this honour. His passion and commitment to the fire services community over so many years is just amazing. Stu’s tireless fundraising has helped our charity to provide timely, tailored care and support to countless individuals and families - enabling them to manage the impacts of service, to live well and to feel valued and recognised. Stu’s championing of our work is hugely valued, and we’re incredibly proud to see him awarded the British Empire Medal.”

Beyond fundraising, Stu is a passionate advocate for the FFC. He regularly promotes its services through internal communications and has expanded the network of FFC representatives across the Service. Every fire station and department now have a dedicated FFC contact, and Stu has personally supported colleagues in accessing vital physical and mental health services through the Charity.

On receiving news of his medal, Stu said:

"I’m overwhelmed by this news and feel extremely proud and humbled. The Charity has supported me and my family over the years, during various times of need, so I just wanted to give something back. But I couldn’t have raised all this money without the support of my colleagues who, when asked, went above and beyond, especially through the pandemic, to help keep our Charity afloat."

Stu will be formally presented with his British Empire Medal at a ceremony later this year.

British Empire Medal

Awarded for a ‘hands-on’ service to the local community. This could be a long-term charitable or voluntary activity, or innovative work of a relatively short duration (3 to 4 years) that has made a significant difference.

Pictured - Crew Manager Stuart Plaskett.