Long service award for dedicated Hounslow firefighter (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Long service award for dedicated Hounslow firefighter

6:50am Wednesday 18th November 2009

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From tackling a terrorist car bombing to attending the Iranian Embassy siege - it’s been an eventful 30-year career for firefighter Tony Cosstick.

And now the 50-year-old has been honoured with an award for his long service and dedication to protecting Londoners.

Mr Cosstick, of Argyle Avenue, Hounslow, spent the last four years of his career as station manager at Twickenham after years of experience across the capital, including as a physical training instructor at the Brigade Training School, in Southwark.

The retired firefighter joined the service in 1978 at the age of 19.

He said: “I left college and went into an office based job. But I wanted a career with more variety and excitement.

“I also wanted a job were I could help others. Being a firefighter has certainly enabled me to do this and when you leave a station to attend an incident you never quite know what you will be faced with.”

He attended the car bombing which killed Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Airey Neave in the House of Commons car park in March 1979, and later the Iranian Embassy siege in 1980.

Looking back on the changes to the service over 30 years, he said: “Our equipment has improved vastly and the new uniform now offers firefighters much better protection than when I started in the service.

“Proactively promoting fire prevention has also been one of the biggest changes the brigade has made. I would say that the working life at fire station has also changed dramatically with the increased level of training firefighters receive at the station.”

Mr Cosstick, who retired in July, spent the end of his career in Twickenham where he worked closely with the Rugby Football Union, and was also involved with fire safety at the new Wembley stadium project.

The keen cyclist has raced in the Firefighters World Games and Firefighters Cycling World Championships all over the globe, winning many gold medals.

He has now set up a business organising cycling tours in the French Alps.

He said: “I feel like I’ve had careers within a career and I’m very grateful to the brigade for the opportunities it has given me.”

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