MBE for town group founder

Watch Commander Ade Taylor. (s)

A FIREFIGHTER who set up the Droitwich branch of the Young Firefighters Association (YFA) more than a decade ago has been awarded an MBE in The Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Firefighter Ade Taylor, who lives in Bromsgrove, is the commander of blue watch at Redditch Fire Station and has been recognised for his dedication with the honour.

Mr Taylor set-up the Droitwich branch in 2000 and, not only is he still the driving force behind it, but co-ordinates the YFA for the whole service with a second group now successfully established in Redditch.

Over the last ten years, he has devoted thousands of hours to the development of young people through the YFA, including giving up some of his own holiday entitlement.

Each year the local YFA attend more than 50 events across the two counties, where the young people contribute to safety projects, open days, civic events and a variety of community days.

Mark Yates, Chief Fire Officer at Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Ade Taylor is quite simply the heartbeat and life blood of our Service’s YFA scheme and he has had a profoundly positive impact on dozens of young people as a result.

"His selfless enthusiasm and drive is exceptional and is a huge credit to the Fire Service, the communities he serves and ultimately himself."

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