Fire Service Visit Brings Back Memories for Fernhill Residents
Residents at Fernhill enjoyed a special visit from Ferndown Fire Station, organised in honour of former fire officer John Duffield.
John served for 27 years before retiring in 1996. He was part of the original Bournemouth Fire Brigade before it merged into Dorset Fire & Rescue in 1974, working at stations in Bournemouth and Pokesdown. Inspired by reminiscence conversations with Companion Ann Marie, the idea to invite the Fire Service to Fernhill was brought to life.
Ann Marie and Customer Support Adviser Lara organised the visit for the whole home to enjoy, sharing the plans with John’s family, who were delighted to see him celebrated for his service.
The afternoon began with an engaging talk from the fire crew, who explained the equipment they use for fire suppression and rescue operations. They shared insights into their daily roles, including the importance of being on-call—one firefighter remained on standby with the fire engine throughout the visit, ready to leave at a moment’s notice if required. Residents were fascinated to learn that firefighters must reach the station within four minutes of their pager sounding and be ready to depart in the fire truck just one minute later.
On this sunny afternoon, residents and staff gathered outside for a closer look at the fire engine. Some were lucky enough to sit behind the wheel, complete with a firefighter’s helmet. John’s face lit up at the sight of the fire crew and their truck, he was deeply moved by their visit and their gratitude for his years of service.
The firefighters took time to chat with residents, sharing stories over a buffet prepared by Fernhill’s chef, Costi. Before leaving, they switched on the fire engine’s blue lights, much to the delight of a staff member’s three-year-old son and all those watching.
The visit was a wonderful experience for everyone at Fernhill, and the Fire Service has extended an invitation for residents to visit Ferndown Fire Station for a tour in the near future.
