Page 12 - November 2021

THE SALAMANDER November 2021
It was with much sadness that the Company learned that on 7 June 2021 Liveryman Paul Fuller, aged 60 years, had passed away after a short illness. Paul passed way in hospital, with his family present, having been diagnosed as recently as April this year with a terminal illness.
Paul joined the Company in 2011, took Freedom of the City of London in 2012, becoming a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Firefighters in 2021. He joined our Court of Assistants earlier this year. Sadly, Paul was not able to attend a Court meeting before his untimely and early passing.
He would have without doubt been a potential Master of the Company in the years to come as well as enjoying a well-earned retirement
with his wife Helen, his children and his wider family and friends. We in the Worshipful Company of Firefighters and those of us who have had the privilege to work with him, enjoy his company and humour will remember Paul with great affection.
Master Graham Maltby, Stephen Sanders (Upper Warden), David Holt (Under Warden) and Past Master and Honorary Almoner Peter Cowland paid respects to Paul at Bedford Fire Station on Thursday 8th July 2021 as the funeral cortege passed by on its route to Bedford Crematorium. He was carried to the service appropriately on a Bedfordshire Turntable ladder engine.
A Thanksgiving Service in
memory of the service and life of Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller, CBE, QFSM, MStJ, DL was also held on Thursday 28th October 2021 at St Mary’s Church, Park Street, Woburn, Bedfordshire, where the Company was also represented through the Master.
Born in 1960, Paul joined the Fire Service in 1978 and was a member of the Fire and Rescue Service for 42 years serving in West Midlands, West Sussex, Staffordshire, Wiltshire as well as a secondment to Warwickshire. He became Chief Fire Officer of Bedfordshire and Luton in 2002. He was due to retire on 30th June this year. His outstanding leadership of Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service over almost two decades brought a positivity to staff, partners and local communities. He was a man with a big character, admired by many people and his loss will be sorely felt within that organisation.
Paul served on a number of national bodies including being President of CFOA, Chair of CFOA Services Limited, Chair of the Fire Sector Federation, Chair of the Children’s Burns Trust, Chair of the Trustees of the Fire Fighters’ Charity, Chair of Fire Sport UK. He also represented the UK as part of the delegation to the Annual United States Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Council and he was a committee member for the Fire Services Parliamentary Scheme.
Paul’s contribution to the UK Fire and Rescue Service was recognised with his award of the Queens Fire Service Medal and he was made a Commander of the British Empire in the 2016 New Year’s Honours.
Paul was not only resoundingly
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