A FIREFIGHTER from North Tawton was this week presented with a special award, in recognition of his work with Devon Fire and Rescue Service. Leading firefighter Kevin Murrin was due to be presented with the fire service?s long service and good conduct medal at a special ceremony at Paignton on Tuesday night. North Tawton fire station officer Twiggy Lake said Mr Murrin was a highly valued member of the crew at North Tawton, who had now completed almost 21 years with Devon Fire and Rescue. Mr Lake said: ?He is a very good firefighter, very experienced. He was a member of our RTA extraction team which took part in the national extraction championships at Manchester and in Plymouth and he was made up to leading firefighter at the station about two years ago.? Mr Murrin said he joined the fire service when he was 25 and had always loved the work. ?I think it?s the team spirit and the comradeship that?s the biggest part of it,? he said. ?Obviously you never know what you?re going to do when you go out on a shout, but you?re part of the team.? A keen athlete, Mr Murrin said he was responsible for most of the fitness activities of the crew. ?I?m the keep fit adviser at the station. I love my sport and running is really my passion.? Mr Murrin is currently running around 38 miles a week as he prepares to take part in his first marathon, in Edinburgh this June. ?I?ve done loads of half-marathons before, but never the full one,? he said. Having just run a personal best in a half-marathon last weekend, he hopes he will be on course to finish the Edinburgh course in four hours.
