27 December 2020
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Station Commander Davy Harbinson has been awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal (QFSM) in the 2020 New Year’s Honours list.
Station Commander Harbinson, based in Eastern Area Command, has been awarded the prestigious medal for distinguished service. He has been recognised for his professionalism, his commitment to making Northern Ireland a safer place and his work in the community. He has been instrumental in developing strong cross community relationships across Belfast in the development and implementation of partnerships with statutory, voluntary and charitable organisations.
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Chief Fire & Rescue Officer (Interim), Michael Graham said:
“On behalf of everyone in NIFRS and on a personal level, I would like to congratulate Davy on receiving this prestigious award. He embodies the very best values of NIFRS and this award is well deserved. It recognises the incredible work Davy has done in going over and above to help protect our community during his career.
“Davy has served his community with distinction as a Firefighter and he has also been instrumental in creating and building community partnerships which are so fundamentally vital to the work that we do in working with others.
Station Commander Davy Harbinson said:
“It is a great honour to be awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal. I know that this is an individual award but I would not have received it if it weren’t for the incredible work of the people around me both within NIFRS and the groups I work with outside the organisation.
“The success we have had in building partnerships and improving community safety has been down to their commitment and dedication. It has been a real pleasure to be a part of that and I have been lucky to see first-hand what can be achieved when people come together to work hard for their community.
“I would also like to thank my wife Jacqueline who has supported me throughout my career. I am lucky to have the best job in the world but I could not do it without her support. I also want to thank my mum Edith who sadly passed away a few years ago. She always loved the Fire Service and always really encouraged me in my career. I know she would have been really proud.”