A MEMBER of a family which has given great service to the fire service in West Devon has earned a long service and good conduct award for his dedication. Kevin Brown, 46, who joined Yelverton fire station in 1986, was presented with his award by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon at the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service's headquarters in Exeter. The firefighter followed in his father's footsteps, who was formerly the sub-officer at Yelverton. Kevin held the rank of sub-officer at Yelverton for five years before returning to the rank of firefighter due to his work commitments as an ambulance technician. Along with his father, Peter, uncle Brian and brother, Alan, Kevin is one of a Brown family with 99 years of fire fighting service between them, and now holds the rank of acting crew commander. Yelverton fire station's watch manager Fred Glanville, who has been a colleague of Kevin for many years. said: 'He is definitely a good man to have around in a crisis and Kevin thoroughly deserves this award.' As an ambulance technician and a firefighter his experience has proved invaluable in liaising between the two emergency services — particularly with the number of traffic accident incidents on Roborough Downs and the busy A386 around Magpie bridge. Kevin organises the end of course RTA practice scenarios for ambulance techicians. The most memorable fire Kevin attended was the Dingles department store fire in Plymouth in 1988. Kevin, who has two married daughters and three grandchildren, told the Times: 'People come and go at Yelverton but there are a few of us who have been there 20 years and more. 'You have to be able to trust those around you and know their strengths and weaknesses and limitations. We are very much a team. 'The fire service has changed over the 20 years, but I still enjoy it. The time has just flown by but if I could do another 20 years I would — no regrets.'