Fire Cadets from across Berkshire have been recognised for their hard work and dedication at a special Graduation Ceremony.
A total of 35 people between the ages of 13 and 17 took centre stage on Thursday, 3 July 2025 at Maidenhead Fire Station to show off the new skills they have mastered over the past several months.
Fire Cadets is a programme run each year by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) at four fire stations across the county – Crowthorne, Maidenhead, Newbury, and Whitley Wood.
It is a national initiative that encourages young people to experience what being a firefighter involves, while also learning essential life skills such as teamwork self-discipline, confidence and leadership.
The Fire Cadets course takes place over the academic year with a challenging programme of activities, such as firefighter drills, breathing apparatus procedures and fire safety awareness sessions – before culminating in Graduation.
During the Graduation Ceremony, each unit showcased the skills they had learnt by performing their own drills, which involved scenarios such as dealing with a house fire, an electric scooter, and realistic training drills.
Wayne Bowcock, Chief Fire Officer, of Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, was on hand to present each Cadet with a certificate to mark their completion of the course. He said:
“It was an absolute pleasure to attend the Fire Cadets Graduation to celebrate and recognise the hard work of the Fire Cadets and the teams who make it a success every year.
“The skills and experiences the Fire Cadets have learned will help to build confidence and hopefully be useful in many other aspects of their lives and future endeavours.
“Congratulations to every Fire Cadet for completing the course and the four Cadet of the Year award winners – Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, your families and loved ones are all extremely proud of you.”
Cadet of the Year awards were also given to one Cadet from each of the four units, presented by the Vice-Chair of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, Councillor Paul Gittings.
Cllr Gittings said: “The Fire Cadets initiative equips young people with valuable interpersonal skills to increase their self-confidence. This year’s Fire Cadets have demonstrated their work ethic and dedication and should be proud of their achievements. Congratulations to all.”
For more information about Fire Cadets, visit the RBFRS website.
