07 April 2025
Sheffield and Rotherham Group AGM and Group Meeting 15th April 2025
Please be reminded that the above meeting will be held at 7.30 pm, on Tuesday, 15th April 2025, in the Community Room at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters, Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 3FG.
How to gain access to the HQ Car Park and the Meeting Room are included in this downloadable guidance
07 April 2025
Association Name Change
Following the National Council Meeting and AGM on Thursday 03rd April 2025, I can confirm that following the Vote for the Re-branding of the Association.
The New name for the Association that will start on Monday 07th April 2025 will be National Association of Retired Fire Service Personnel.
Please find below the results of the Vote:
| Retired Fire Service Association | 76 Votes |
| Fire and Rescue Association | 43 Votes |
| National Association of Fire and Rescue Personnel | 40 Votes |
| Fire Service Association | 18 Votes |
| National Association of Retired Fire Service Personnel | 187 Votes |
Please find attached the New Badge that should be used on all letter headings and correspondence.
The National web site will up and running soon more details will be sent out at a later date.
John Littleton - National President
19th March 2025
Valediction - Retired Leading Firefighter, Mr Bernard Newbound
It is with deep regret that the Service has been informed of the passing of retired Leading Firefighter, Mr Bernard Newbound, aged 92 years, on Friday 28 February 2025.
Mr Newbound began his career with the Fire Service in November 1956, serving at Rivelin Valley Fire Station and Division Street Fire Station until his retirement in November 1987.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, 3 April 2025 at 1230 hours, at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, Hutcliffe Wood Road, Sheffield S8 0BL. Following the service, the family would like to invite all the guests to a gathering at a venue, which will be confirmed on the day of the service.
Family flowers only and if desired donations may be made to Parkinson's UK.
The family welcomes anyone who wishes to attend.
18 March 2025
Sheffield and Rotherham Group AGM and Group Meeting 15th April 2025
Please be advised that the above meeting will be held at 7.30 pm, on Tuesday, 15th April 2025, in the Community Room at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters, Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 3FG.
How to gain access to the HQ Car Park and the Meeting Room are included in this downloadable guidance
18th March 2025
Valediction - South Yorkshire Branch Members
It is with deepest sadness that we have received the news from SYFRS of the recent deaths of:
- Philip Thackstone (Barnsley and Doncaster Group), and
- Bernard Newbound (Sheffield and Rotherham Group)
At present there is no further information but we will keep you informed via this page.
18 March 2025
Firefighter John Lloyd's Cycle Challenge in Aid of the Fire Fighters Charity and the Royal Marines
Unfortunately John's challenge to cycle all of Simon Warrenʼs legendary 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, in a single ride, has now been cancelled.
6 March 2025
NARF Annual General Meeting
The NARF National Annual General Meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, Chapel Lane, Great Barr, Birmingham B43 7BG on Thursday 3 April 2025 commencing at 2:00 pm.
6 February 2025
Valediction - Retired Station Officer John Simpson
It is with deepest regret that the Service has informed us of the death of retired Station Officer, Mr John Trevor Simpson, aged 83 years, on Wednesday 15 January 2025.
John began his career with the Fire Service in March 1964, where he served at numerous locations including Division Street Fire Station and Mansfield Road Fire Station up until his retirement in March 1994.
The funeral service is to be held on Thursday 27 February 2025 at 1400 hours, at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, Hutcliffe Wood Road, Sheffield S8 0BL, followed by a reception at Dore and Totley Golf Club, Bradway Road, Sheffield. S17 4QR.
Family flowers only and if desired donations may be made to Cancer Research UK.
The family would welcome anyone wishing to attend.
30 January 2025
Valediction - Retired Divisional Officer Peter Woolfenden
It is with deepest regret that the Service has informed us of the death of retired Divisional Officer, Mr Peter Leslie Woolfenden, aged 84 years, on Saturday 18 January 2025.
Mr Woolfenden began his career with the Fire Service in August 1963, where he served at numerous locations including Maltby, Brampton Bierlow Fire Stations, Brigade Training Centre, and ‘D’ Division Headquarters Rotherham. He retired in December 1987.
A private funeral service has already taken place for Mr Woolfenden.
29 January 2025
NARF Name Change Ballot
Ballot papers for individual member voting on the change of the name of the National Association of Retired Firefighters were included in Issue 89 of NARF News. It has come to our attention that a number of members did not received their ballot paper. If this is the case please email the South Yorkshire Retired Firefighters Treasurer, (ejmullins02@talktalk.net) who will inform the NARF National Secretary and he will ensure that a ballot form reaches you before the NARF National AGM in April.
18 January 2025
Firefighter John Lloyd's Cycle Challenge in Aid of the Fire Fighters Charity and the Royal Marines
Unfortunately John's challenge to cycle all of Simon Warrenʼs legendary 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, in a single ride, has now been cancelled.
2nd January 2025
Valediction Joan Mettam (wife of the late Ken Mettam)
It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the death of Mrs Joan Mettam on 12th December 2024. Joan's funeral service will be held at 12:30 hours on Thursday 16 January 2025, at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, Hutcliffe Wood Road, Sheffield S8 0HN followed by a reception at the Abbeydale Golf Club, Twentywell Lane, Dore, Sheffield S17 4QA.
Family flowers only and if desired, donations may be made at the service to the Family's chosen charity.
The family would welcome anyone wishing to attend.
1st January 2025
The Next Sheffield and Rotherham Group Meeting
The next Sheffield and Rotherham Group Meeting will be held at 7.30 pm, on Tuesday, 21st January 2025, in the Community Room at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters, Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 3FG. How to gain access to the HQ Car Park and the Meeting Room are included in this downloadable guidance
10th December 2018
HM Treasury - Official Committee on Occupational Pensions
2015 Pensions Increase Multiplier Tables
The above paper gives details of the multiplier tables for public service pensions, which take effect from 6 April 2015.
2. Section 59 of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 (as amended) provides for public service pensions to be increased annually by the same percentage as additional pensions (State Earnings Related Pension and State Second Pension). As the Minister for Pensions had previously announced that benefits such as the additional pensions would be increased by 1.2 per cent from April 2015, in line with the increase in the Consumer Prices Index in the 12 months to September 2014, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury made a Written Statement on 10 February 2015, that public service pensions would also be increased by the same percentage, which is 1.2 per cent, from 6 April 2015.
19th November 2024
Fallen Firefighters - The Elizabeth Emblem Award
On the 16 July 2024, we informed you of the new ‘Elizabeth Emblem’ which has been unveiled to commemorate public servants who died in the line of duty. The emblem will be conferred by His Majesty Charles III and will be awarded to their next of kin.
The design of the Emblem incorporates a rosemary wreath, a traditional symbol of remembrance, which surrounds the Tudor Crown. It is inscribed with ‘For A Life Given in Service’ and will have the name of the person for whom it is in memoriam inscribed on the reverse of the Emblem. It will include a pin to allow the award to be worn on clothing by the next of kin of the deceased.
Families of fallen firefighter's can retrospectively apply for the emblem via the GOV.UK website.
Applications can be made back to 1948 and the framework for the recognition is closely mirrored to that of the Elizabeth Cross which is awarded to military personnel.
However, within South Yorkshire it doesn't appear that any nominations, other than for Fm Paul Parkin, have been submitted for review by the George Cross Committee have been made, and therefore no other recommendations have been made to His Majesty the King via the Prime Minister.
We are willing to make nominations on behalf of relatives, if they do not wish to do so themselves. If you wish us to proceed with this, please email ejmullins02@talktalk.net .
Recipients of The Elizabeth Emblem will receive their award from a senior representative such as a Chief Constable, Chief Fire Officer or His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant.
For application details please follow the following link: The Elizabeth Emblem - application guidance and eligibility - GOV.UK