Stories

Everyone needs support sometimes. Hear from some of the people Fire Fighters Charity has helped to move forward with positive change, personal achievement, progress and transformation in their health and wellbeing.

Category: Retirement

Smiling older woman with blonde hair sits on a wooden bench outside a Harcombe House with stone and yellow columns, wearing a white shirt and glasses on her head.

Celia’s story

Celia Weller is approaching retirement after 47 years working in Fire Control. We caught up with her during a Transitions into Retirement Programme, which she says has helped her focus on her next chapter.

An older woman smiles while standing outdoors with three smiling children—two boys and a girl—on a sunny day, with a food truck and other people visible in the background.

Shirley story

Shirley Armitt was one of the first people to attend our Falls Management Exercise Programme (FaME) at Jubilee House and says it helped her come to terms with her MS and find ways of boosting her overall wellbeing.

An older man and woman sit closely together outdoors, smiling at the camera. They are surrounded by wooden picnic tables and a white fence in the background on a sunny day.

Pat’s story

When Pat Johnson’s beloved husband, Bill, passed away, she not only received support from her own family – but her wider “fire family” too. She shares how, through stays at our centres and Living Well Groups, she’s gone on to establish lifelong friendships.

A smiling man wearing a helmet, shorts, and a backpack is riding a black bicycle on a paved path with grass and trees in the background.

Tony’s story

Tony Terry retired from the fire service over 20 years ago – but he says visiting our centre following an operation felt like “being back in the fire service again”.

Gerry’s story

Our Welfare Team was able to support retired firefighter Gerry Wallbank at an incredibly challenging time, allowing him to regain vital independence for the first time in months.