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Prestigious Award for former Fire Officer |
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Michael Aspel presents Michael Ventre with his lifetime achievement award at the Spirit of Fire awards evening
A retired fire officer from the Isle of Man received the top national award recently at the Spirit of Fire Annual Award ceremony organised by the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund (FSNBF) a national charity which provides care and rehabilitation for injured firefighters and support to widows and orphans
The event, which was held at Homerton College Cambridge recognised achievement in the Fire Services and dedication to the work of the FSNBF, was attended by many famous names from the worlds of media, celebrity and politics
Ten awards were made during the evening recognising a broad range of achievements, the most prestigious being the Lifetime Achievement Award for services to the fire community being awarded to Mr Ventre, who was unaware that he had been nominated
The presentation was made by veteran broadcaster Michael Aspel who said, ‘It was a privilege to meet a man like the Lifetime Achievement winner, Mike Ventre, and I was humbled to be associated with such a heroic group of people. The FSNBF organised a great evening and it was a true celebration of the Fire Services’
Michael was accompanied on the evening by his daughter Maria, Chief Fire Officer Brian Draper and Deputy Chief Bruce Kirkham who had all managed to conceal the true nature of the evening from him, so that the award came as a complete surprise
Following military service Michael had a long and meritorious career in the fire service on the Island rising to the rank of Assistant Divisional Officer, and in retirement has devoted himself to the work of the FSNBF and the welfare of the many retired Firefighters and their dependents
Chief Fire Officer Brian Draper said, “Mike is hugely respected and admired with great affection throughout the service and is regarded by many as being the grandfather of the fire service here on the Island. He made a significant contribution to the development of the Island’s Fire Service during his long career and to this day he continues with his efforts in supporting the welfare and needs of our retired members and their dependants. This award is justly deserved and we are all thrilled that his effort and achievements have received national recognition”.