A serving fire officer and the Chair of the Fire Authority for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have both been named to the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, which recognises outstanding achievements and extraordinary people from across the UK.
The dedication, courage, and compassion displayed by these recipients, whether on the frontlines or in the communities of South Wales, is inspiring. Councillor Tudor Davies and Group Manager Shaun Moody have gone above and beyond in their commitment to public safety. Tudor has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and Shaun has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM). Tudor and Shaun are true assets to the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service family, from innovative collaboration to exceptional leadership to the development of life-saving training.
Shaun Moody, Group Manager, has dedicated his life to saving others and is a global advocate for the advancement of search and rescue training. His knowledge led to his appointment to the European Union Civil Protection Unit, where he continues to influence the development of better search and rescue techniques throughout Europe. Shaun was instrumental in developing and delivering Service-wide training, which resulted in cutting-edge techniques and cutting-edge rescue equipment being used across South Wales.
Shaun’s vision, dedication, and leadership enabled him to organise the world’s largest rescue event in the Welsh capital. His dedication to helping others on a national and international scale includes providing frontline support after major disasters such as the earthquakes in Sumatra (2009), New Zealand (2011), and Nepal (2015), where he led, commanded, and coached others to perform complex rescues. His accomplishments have been recognised on a local level, where he has received the Mayor Citizenship Award at both the Gold and Platinum levels.
Shaun is a serving operational officer who volunteers his time to help others. His desire to make a genuine difference by sharing his knowledge and expertise, frequently in his spare time, so that the UK and global communities can benefit. His reputation in the search and rescue field is unrivalled. Shaun has also helped charities by sharing his knowledge and expertise, as well as coaching firefighters in Ghana, Russia, and Romania.
Tudor Davies is a councillor.
As Chair of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor Tudor Davies has worked tirelessly over the years to ensure that local communities have access to world-class fire and rescue services. For 37 years, he has dedicated his life to representing the communities of South Wales as a local Councillor in Caerphilly County Borough Council, as Chair of the Authority, and in a variety of unpaid volunteer roles. Tudor led a review of the suitability and location of all fire stations in South Wales, resulting in a £2 million savings while maintaining effective fire coverage and lowering the number of fire deaths to an all-time low.
His drive for collaboration has resulted in improved coordination among Wales’ three fire and rescue services, resulting in savings of more than £7 million in just five years. Tudor, 81, is still serving as a local Councillor with unwavering dedication, commitment, and a desire to make a difference. Tudor also devotes significant time to charities, trusts, and governing bodies, and is an active fundraiser, raising thousands of dollars for Cancer Research.
These accolades are truly well-deserved, and I extend my warmest congratulations to all of those recognised by the Queen’s Birthday Honours,” said South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway QFSM. We are fortunate to have Councillors and officers like Tudor and Shaun who work tirelessly not only to protect the communities of South Wales, but also to proactively share their skills with others in the UK to reduce risk. This is just a small sample of the inspiring people working across our Service to make our communities safer; I am honoured to be a part of it.”
