THE chief fire officer of Mid and West Wales has said he was delighted to be recognised in the new year’s honours.

Chris Davies, who heads the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, was awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted, honoured and proud to have received this award. I have served 32 years in the fire and rescue service and enjoyed every minute of my time, to be recognised in this way is truly humbling and I would like to thank everyone who has worked with me during my career."

Chris joined South Glamorgan Fire Service in 1984 and served at Cardiff, Ely, Roath and Whitchurch stations both as a firefighter and officer. During his service at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service he rose to the rank of head of community safety and, on two separate occasions, was seconded to the Fire Service College and the government’s new dimension project.

He joined Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service in 2008 as corporate head of community risk reduction before being promoted to the role of assistant chief fire officer in 2011.

In 2014, Chris was appointed chief fire officer for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Chris has two sons and lives with his partner Ceri, in the Mumbles area of Swansea.