Proactive East Sussex fire service leader ‘overwhelmed’ after receiving British Empire Medal in New Year Honours

ESFRS congratulated strategic prevention manager David Anthony Kemp, from Seaford, on New Year’s Eve (December 31) after the announcement was made at 10.30pm on December 30.

The BEM rewards achievements and contributions to the community in support of innovative work that has had a positive effect.

David said: “I am overwhelmed to be honoured with the British Empire Medal. None of what has been achieved would be possible without the loving support of my family. I am hugely grateful to senior leaders for supporting our innovative prevention work and to colleagues in our Fire and Rescue Service as well as the Police, Health, Local Authorities and third sector who should see this award as recognition of the work that we have undertaken together to make our community safer.”

Chief fire officer Dawn Whittaker said “I am thrilled that David is to receive this honour, anyone who has worked with him knows his passion and proactivity for improving community safety. He has been instrumental in shaping and leading innovative approaches and programmes that have undoubtedly helped save lives in Sussex and further afield. It is fantastic to see him honoured in this way and I know you will all join me in offering David our warm congratulations.”

The fire service said David has served in the public sector in East Sussex for 46 years. They said he had a 30-year career with Sussex Police, which led to him working with local District and Borough Councils before joining ESFRS in 2012. After joining, the fire service said David led the ‘pioneering# data sharing project with GP practices, which delivers home safety visits to vulnerable people directly referred by GPs. The fire service said the project is still having a lasting impact on communities and has been introduced in other fire services.

An ESFRS spokesperson added: “His leadership with local partnership initiatives came to the fore with the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. David developed a Ukrainian translation of the Home Office Fire Kills leaflet which is now used by all FRS’s in England and almost 1,000 Home Safety Visits have been delivered to Ukraine nationals placed in the UK. David oversees our Volunteers programme, who support ESFRS at many public events and fundraising activities. This continued throughout Covid when Volunteers provided a telephone befriending scheme for over 150 isolated and vulnerable members of the local community.”