Woman, 51, finally realises firefighter dream

Sue Ward says age is no barrier if you are reasonably fit and committed

A 51-year-old woman who has just achieved her childhood ambition of becoming a firefighter has said "it is never too late to follow your dream".

Sue Ward is proudly serving as an on-call firefighter for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

Based at Darwen fire station, she said it was the best job she had ever had.

She is keen to prove that age should not be a barrier and encouraged others to apply to the fire service, adding she was "living my dream".

Ms Ward said at age 17 when she first decided she wanted to be a firefighter there was a minimum height requirement and she was "too short to even apply".

Undeterred, she channelled her ambition into joining the Royal Navy, where she served in the newly-formed women's firefighting branch for nine years.

She later built a successful career in the fitness industry and said she opened the first-ever female fitness centres in Saudi Arabia.

Sue Ward completed her training, aged 50, and says she is "living my dream at 51"

Despite her success she said her dream to join the fire service never faded.

Years later, when she returned to the UK to support her daughter's education she found herself browsing the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service website and saw on-call firefighter recruitment was open.

At the age of 50, Ms Ward applied, completed her training and finally earned the title of firefighter.

"I never thought it was a possible reality for me," she said. "At first I worried I was too old, or not fit enough.

"But there was so much support, from the Fit for Fire programme to my drill nights at Darwen."

'Go for it'

She is now an integral part of the team at Darwen.

"I love being part of such a supportive crew," she said.

"We train and respond just like wholetime firefighters, we attend the same incidents, complete the same training, and carry the same responsibilities.

"There's this myth that you have to be young to do this job. But if you're over 18, reasonably fit, and committed - you can absolutely do it.

"I'm living my dream at 51."

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is currently recruiting on-call firefighters and Ms Ward is urging others to apply.

"If this has ever been your dream, go for it. It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done," she said.