A FIREFIGHTER from Woodford Green has been honoured for more than 30 years of service.

Roy Jackson, 55, of the Boulevard in Repton Park first began his career in 1976 at Woodford Fire Station, before going on to posts in Finchley and Holloway.

In 1995 he took up a role as a driver trainer based in Barking, where he has remained ever since.

He said: “I love my role in the brigade’s driving school and I get a lot out of helping our staff. My job is to teach firefighters how to drive fire engines on a blue light, covering areas like driving at speed and skid avoidance.

"I sometimes miss life on a fire station, but don’t regret taking on a new challenge.”

He added that the past 30 years had certainly been memorable.

He said: “I really enjoyed training school and my first ever call out as a firefighter was a road traffic accident in Woodford. I also remember the last fire I ever attended, in Holloway.

“There are too many incidents and emergencies to mention but I’ve been lucky enough to receive two commendations, one for talking someone out of jumping from a bridge over the North Circular road in Finchley, and one for helping to resuscitate a man who had been knocked off a bike and had stopped breathing.”

He was presented with a special commemorative plaque for the milestone by brigade officials last week.