Father and daughter clock up 64 years of firefighting service

A father and daughter team have clocked up more than 64 years of combined service protecting the Talgarth community.

Watch Manager Bryan Davies and his daughter, Firefighter Katrina Davies, have both dedicated decades to Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, following very different but closely linked journeys into firefighting.

Bryan joined Talgarth Fire Station as an On-Call Firefighter on October 5, 1982, and has since become the station’s longest-serving firefighter.

Growing up in Crickhowell, he developed an interest in the service from an early age, watching crews turn out from the local station when the siren sounded before personal alerters were introduced.

His firefighting career began in 1982 when he moved to Talgarth, married his wife Jennifer and welcomed Katrina. After being encouraged by a new neighbour who was an On-Call Firefighter, Bryan visited the station and completed a point-of-entry test.

He recalls the early days being very different, with candidates having to climb a wooden ladder on the station’s drill tower, roll out hose and carry a casualty.

“The ladders were not for the faint hearted,” said Bryan. “They would swing in and out as you climbed and the tripod drill tower they were pitched against swayed as well - it was no joke!”

After completing his training, Bryan began attending incidents in March 1983 and has witnessed huge changes in the service during his career, particularly in protective equipment and appliances.

He remembers firefighters once wearing basic kit with little protection compared with today’s advanced equipment.

In his early days, the fire kit consisted only of a non-fire-resistant tunic and helmet, yellow plastic leggings which had to be cut to size and standard wellington boots, with no gloves or flash hoods. Bryan recalls his tunic catching fire during an attic fire and Firefighters’ ears burning while tackling fires.

Bryan has also seen significant improvements in the fire engines used to respond to emergencies. 

“When I joined in 1982 the station had a Bedford TK appliance, which had a manual, four-speed gearbox, no power steering, no high-pressure hose reels and no road traffic collision equipment,” he said.

“Thankfully, today’s modern appliances are far more advanced, they’re like driving a big car.”

Bryan will retire from the service in October this year after 44 years of commitment to the community.

His daughter Katrina followed in his footsteps, joining Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service in 2006.

Growing up, she was always intrigued when her father’s alerter sounded and never missed the station’s annual open days. Television shows such as Fireman Sam and London’s Burning also fuelled her interest, especially the latter, which showcased female Firefighters and helped her see a place for herself in the role

Towards the end of 2005, at the age of 23, Katrina decided to apply to join the fire service and completed her initial training in January 2006.

Just days after completing her training, Katrina attended her first incident - a chimney fire in Bronllys.

She has also witnessed significant changes during her career, including improvements to training, equipment and crew structures.

“It’s a highly rewarding job and you get a lot out of it,” said Katrina.

“You gain invaluable lifesaving skills, develop both personally and professionally, and become a respected figure within your community.”

Despite being father and daughter, Bryan and Katrina put their family relationship aside when responding to incidents and work as colleagues, each with their own roles and responsibilities.

Their dedication and commitment to the community of Talgarth and beyond have been recognised several times over the years. Most recently, in March 2026, Bryan and Katrina were presented with the Powys Silver Kite Award for their dedication, professionalism and tireless contribution to local events and fundraising. At a presentation held at the Castle Hotel in Brecon, the pair received the award from the then Chair of Powys County Council, Cllr William Powell.

One thing they are both keen to highlight is the support they have received from their family. This support is often underestimated and undervalued. Without the support of Bryan’s wife and Katrina’s mother, Jennifer, as well as the wider family, there are times when they would not have been able to respond to incidents.