Graeme: “You’re in such a fire service-orientated environment – it made such a difference”
For more than four decades, Graeme Browning has balanced life as a wholetime and on-call firefighter with another passion: creating artwork inspired by life in the fire service.
Over the years, he’s used that talent to raise funds for us through cards, calendars and merchandise. But after experiencing our support first-hand following a stroke in 2024, that fundraising became particularly personal.
“In 2024 I had a stroke while I was on duty,” says Graeme, who has served with Kent FRS for 43 years. “It came as a huge shock as I’d always been incredibly fit and healthy, I don’t drink or smoke, eat healthily and stay very fit for work.”
Graeme had been working a normal shift and was preparing to go home when he began feeling “odd”.
“I was moving my kit towards the door and went to pick it up but couldn’t, it was like picking up water. As I went to walk, I just went sideways into the van next to me,” he says.
“Luckily the guys saw me and they came running across the yard, wrestled me to the floor and checked me over.”
While he was assessed at the time, it was the following day, during a hospital check-up, that the stroke fully developed.
“From walking in, I couldn’t lift my left arm, I was dribbling, and it was really terrifying,” he says. “Luckily, there wasn’t much long-term damage, but I spent two months after that bouncing off the walls waiting to build up my fitness to get back to work.”
Graeme, whose brother and several cousins are also in the fire service, got in touch with us while he was recovering, having spent so many years previously spreading the word about our care and support.
“I was invited to Marine Court for a week’s rehabilitation,” he says. “They were really excellent. I felt a bit of a fraud when I first got there because there were people there with very obvious issues, but it was such a fantastic week.
“I felt so much better when I came away from there, my coordination and balance were vastly improved by the exercises I did there and the whole experience was fantastic, it was the right environment for me, with people who cared and showed genuine compassion. They were second to none.
“What struck me was you’re in such a fire service-orientated environment. Because they knew my situation, I was able to go into the gym and they got BA sets and hoses out for me, it felt like stepping through a door into a fire station! It was amazing and made such a difference.”
Graeme was able to do his fitness test shortly afterwards and returned to work gradually from there. He’s been feeling well ever since.
From there, he set his sights on more ways to give back. That led to his latest Christmas card designs, which are now on sale through our online shop.
“I do all the designs myself but they tend to be based upon photos I’ve taken myself, or photos people send to me,” he says.
“I usually start off with a picture of a fire engine or something like a brass helmet, and I work from there, using any inspiration that’s around me, or that comes to mind.”
The cards are just one part of Graeme’s long-running support. Over the years he has taken on fundraising challenges, organised charity events and volunteered as a Station Rep.
“The main thing is it keeps me busy, and raises a few bob for Fire Fighters Charity,” he says.
Graeme’s cards are available on our Online Shop, via the button below: