Herald - Issue 409

15th July 2021 • The HERALD • Page 27 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v The Difference is Clear Local family run company offering • TV & Radio aerials installed, serviced • Digital Reception Specialists • Sky Digital & BBC Digital Problems • Foreign Satellite Channel Specialists • Satellites & Video Distribution • Telephone Extension Points APPROVED MEMBER OF THE CAI NO CALL OUT CHARGE 023 8086 8074/07855 793675 HANDY HANDS HANDYMAN S E RV I C E S Your Local Handyman For ALL Your Small Jobs • Gutter Clearance & Clearing • PVCu Fascias, Gutters, Soffits & Conservatory Cleaning • Pressure Cleaning of Paths & Patios •Window Cleaning • Interior & Exterior Painting • Grass Cutting, Strimming • Hedge Trimming • Shed Re-treated/ Roofs Re-felted • Flat Pack Assembly Fully Insured Free Estimates Work Guaranteed References on Request T: 023 8084 0096 M: 07840 860202 M. C. HALL LTD 4 Carpentry 4 Fencing 4 Decoration 4 Extensions 4 Kitchens 4 Loft Conversions 4 Bathrooms 4 New Build First Rate Building & Carpentry Work Start to Finish Service • References Available • Fully Insured • 1 year guarantee Free Quotations and Friendly Advice Given Contact mchall126@btinternet.com or call 023 8089 8456 or 07976 937941 Website: www.mchallltd.co.uk Deputy Chief Fire Officer to be Honoured by the Queen A fire officer with more than 30 years’ service has been recognised for his outstanding contribution in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service’s (HIWFRS) Deputy Chief Fire O cer (DCFO), Steve Apter, has been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Fire Service Medal. e honour is bestowed on those who have displayed distinguished service or gallantry. DCFO Apter led the former Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service through significant improvement and change and as Deputy Commissioner for London Fire Brigade attendedmany signi cant incidents, including the Westminster Bridge terrorist attack and Grenfell Tower re. Over the last 15 months he has managed HIWFRS’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was responsible for overseeing the formal combination of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Service as they became one service in April. DCFO Apter said: “I am truly honoured and humbled to have been awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal. I’ve been fortunate throughout my career to work with the best teams who I have learned so much from. However, by far the best team is my family who have supported me and been there throughout, in good times and the most challenging times. This award is very much the Apter’s Team Award!” HIWFRS’ Chief Fire O cer, Neil Odin, said: “Steve’s inclusion in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list is richly deserved. It’s a fitting tribute to the commitment and passion he has displayed throughout his career and we are all delighted for him.” DCFO Apter began his re service career as a retained re ghter on the Isle of Wight in 1990 and he became a whole-time re ghter a year later. He went on to be appointed as Chief Fire O cer for the Island’s re service in 2011. Following the strategic partnership with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service in 2015, he initially transferred to HIWFRS and, following a period of secondment as the Deputy Chief Fire O cer to East Sussex Fire Service, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner in London Fire Brigade in 2016. In 2019, he returned to HIWFRS as Deputy Chief Fire O cer and Director of Policy and Planning with responsibility for all areas of strategy and risk. As Gold commander he has been responsible for their planning and response to the pandemic alongside partners within the Local Resilience Forum. DCFO Apter, who retired at the end of June, lives on the Isle of Wight with his wife Andrea and their three children Lucia, Nina and Elliot. He is a trustee of two re service charities, Fire Aid and the Fire ghters Trust, and a former Chair of the World and UK Rescue Organisations of which he is a patron. DCFO Steven Apter proud to have been awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal Litter picking and beach cleaning are activities that local groups and individuals carry out along the Waterside, and Hythe & Waterside Rotary do this regularly throughout the year. One of their Rotarians takes litter dropping very seriously and always takes rubbish bags with him when he goes on his regular walks across the New Forest with his wife. Recently, as they walked through the Dibden enclosure and on to the trails, they were dismayed to encounter two separate incidents of detritus being le by people partying in the open forest. Firstly, a re had been lit and bottles, cans, crisp and sandwich packaging had been le strewn around just o the trail. e re was no longer burning but the ash was still warm. e Rotarian and his wife were now faced with carrying two large carrier bags, lled with all the litter that had been le by these thoughtless people, a considerable distance home. As luck would have it shortly a er the clear up and continuing along the forest trail, a Forest Ranger Fire Land Rover came towards them and stopped, hearing about the situation and putting the bags of rubbish in the back of the vehicle, the rangers went back to the area to con rm that the re was extinguished and would not cause a problem. e second incident happened during a walk on the ridge above where there is the pool and bridge, and again there was evidence that there had been a party held there. e usual bottles, cans and packaging, but in this instance, it had been thrown around leaving several broken bottles and up-turned retrieved. As much rubbish as possible was collected and, along with the scooter, was carried home by the Rotarian and his wife. ey le the scooter readily viewable in the Dibden enclosure hoping that the owner would see it and take it back. Two days later the scooter was no longer there. “The residents of the Waterside are very privileged to live in such a beautiful area and to have the forest open and available to all for recreation and wellbeing,” says a Hythe & Waterside Rotary spokesman. “However, with it comes responsibilities that everyone must follow. The most important being, after your activity, make sure you leave the area as you would expect to find it. The safety of the forest animals depends on the way that humans behave whilst enjoying themselves in the forest environment”. If you would like to know more about Hythe & Waterside Rotary, their future litter picks or beach cleans, please telephone: 023 8181 8187 or visit the website: www.hwrotary. org LOOK AFTER THE FOREST bottle caps in amongst the gorse just where the forest animals roam. Then a child’s Disney scooter was spotted thrown down the bank which was Residential & Commercial Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Give Your Carpets and Upholstery New Life! 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