Hero firefighter retires after 37 years

blackmorevaleApril 18, 20210 Comment0

Firefighter Mike Tealey has hung up his helmet as he retires after 37 years with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service.

Mike joined Mere Fire Brigade in 1984, aged just 19 and since that day, Mere Fire Station has always been his ‘first home’.

Group manager Wayne Presley, who manages the fire stations in Wiltshire, said: “I want to say thank you to Mike and his family, on behalf of the residents of Mere, and across our wider service area, for his dedication to keeping them safe. Remaining in any role for 37 years is impressive, but on-call firefighters and their families make a huge commitment to their communities, as call outs can mean missing meals, family occasions and other events. On behalf of the service, I send Mike good wishes for a long and happy retirement – without the sound of a pager!”

Mike has not only been a hero in the community but an inspirational ‘hero’ to his wife Sandy and four children. Despite the pager playing a significant role in the lives of his family, interrupting birthdays, Christmas lunches and holidays, they could not be prouder.

Sandy said: “Mere Fire Station was always Mike’s first home from the get go as he was so dedicated to the job and I soon got used to this fact. Quite often there were days when Mike and I and all the kids would be packed and ready for a day out, when his bleeper would go off. He would just look at me and I would just respond with a ‘yes, go’ and we would have to bundle out of the car.”

“One of the funniest memories was many years ago when we were at my mum’s house in Templecombe. Back in those days the fire service had the old alerters. Mike fell asleep, as he quite often does. We believe Wincanton’s signal must have set off Mike’s alerter and he woke up, ran out of the house and up the street, until he realised where we were.”

Mike’s son Kevin, who lives in Perth, Australia, said: “Dad loved being a firemen as he loved helping people and animals. There were many times we would be about to go on holiday and he would hear his bleeper go off and run out the door shouting ‘I won’t be long’ but we understood as dad and the crew do an amazing job. He’s a true hero. I’m so proud of this man.”

His daughter Leah said: “I remember when I was little, dad would quite often go out on-call at night. His alert would wake me up and I would go into to my parents room as I hated dad going out at night times. So mum used to set up the old radio with the long pull out metal aerial so we could listen to dad and his crew out on the fire call. So that way I knew he was safe.

“There were times if we were out and we came across a car accident or if anyone needed help he’d park the car safely, and also where we couldn’t see anything. He’d jump straight out without any hesitation to help until the services were there. We’ve all had our birthdays missed and Christmases’ – but we wouldn’t have had it any otherway. He always will be a true inspiration to us all. We are so proud to have Mike as our dad.”