Watch Commander retires after 32 years' service

Wednesday 12 August 2020

One of the island's longest-serving firefighters retired yesterday after nearly 32 years working with the Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service.

Watch Commander David Wallace joined the Service part-time in early 1986, and became full-time under a year later. Other than an 18-month period of living in the United States, he has been a firefighter in Guernsey ever since.

Mr Wallace was promoted to Leading Firefighter in 1996, and has been Watch Commander since 2005. But firefighting wasn't always a passion for him; it was something he fell into later in life, after doing Work Experience at the Guernsey Fire Brigade - in 1973. 

"After that I went travelling, and did a bit of this, that and the other," said Mr Wallace. "Later on I became interested in looking at a career. I started chatting to a few people in the Fire Service. But I wasn't one of these people who was young and had wanted to be a fireman all their life."

During a formal presentation celebrating his career, Chief Fire Officer Jon Le Page shared a story that he felt reflected Mr Wallace's dedication to public service.

While receiving training in Hampshire in 1992, he came to the aid of a lady who was being assaulted. When the culprit tried to flee the scene, Wallace took chase and apprehended the man, which led to a criminal conviction.

“This public spirit and desire to help others has remained with Dave throughout his career,” said Mr Le Page “It is fair to say that there are many in our community that have benefited from his assistance over the years.”

Mr Wallace has attended a number of high-profile incidents across his career, and was instrumental in introducing the Occupational Health Provisions that are still used today to benefit the health of Guernsey's firefighters. But when he looks back on his career, it isn't the eye-catching, attention-grabbing moments that stand out for him.

"The stand out moments are when you see people safe," he said. "The crew's safe. The guys I manage are safe. And most of all, the public's safe," he said. 

"If we can instil that into every person who walks through the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service door, we won't go far wrong, because our priority is the public's safety."

Pictured: Chief Fire Officer Jon Le Page commended Mr Wallace's career record: "the standards he set and insisted we uphold made us who we are today," he said.

Mr Wallace said he has one piece of advice, above all else, to anyone looking to join the service - be prepared to seek help when you need it.

"You'll be doing more medical responses in this job now. You'll be seeing more deaths; that's the bottom line. You have to be very, very mindful of your own personal wellbeing. Make sure, if you've got any doubts, to seek help if you need it."

Pictured Top: David Wallace received a plaque from his colleague at the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service to commemorate his 32 years of service