The association was formed many years ago by retired firefighters who felt that there should be some form of contact and social facility after retirement.

Membership is open to all former employees of the Fire and Rescue Service and current membership reflects all of the varied posts within the organisation.

Social functions that have been organised by the committee (elected by the members annually) in the past range from one day coach trips to inclusive coach and hotel breaks and evening entertainment with guest speakers, skittles at a local pub or quiz nights.

Already for 2007 there is a coach and hotel break for five days to North Yorkshire and a spring social evening with a guest speaker from the Leicestershire Air Ambulance Charity.

Through your membership of the LF&RS RMA affiliation to the National Association of Retired Firefighters (NARF) is automatic and you are represented at a number of important national bodies dealing with issues for those in retirement.

NARF has both district and national councils and the representatives on these councils are elected annually by the membership. Leicestershire is well represented on these councils and have Paul Webster as District Secretary and Frank Byrne as District Chair, both also sit on the NARF National Council, Paul as the District representative and Frank on the Pensions Committee (Which advises members on matters relating to both the Fireman’s Pension Scheme and the New Firefighter Pension Scheme) and also have David Bell in the important post of Council Member of Age Concern (England).

We have representatives from NARF on The National Pensioners Convention National Executive, Age Concern ( Wales), Age Concern ( Scotland) and other similar organisations.

For further information contact either Paul Webster (01530 243813) or Frank Byrne at CBA.

Information about NARF and links to other organisations can be found at, www.narfire.org.uk.