Dales firemen honoured by Wensleydale Creamery

THE Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes has honoured the retained Yorkshire Dales firefighters who helped tackled a blaze at its famous factory.

They were invited to the Creamery by Managing Director David Hartley to highlight the sterling work done by the locally-based volunteer emergency crew as well as mark the first anniversary of the fire.

The team was presented a selection of the renowned Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese as the business celebrated its progress during the last 12 months.

David Hartley said: “Thanks to having a locally-based team of firefighters, who managed to get to the Creamery in good time, the damage was not as bad as it could, otherwise, have been.

“The Wensleydale Creamery thought that the most fitting way to mark how the business has developed, in the 12 months since the fire, was to invite back the fantastic team, who were responsible for helping keep disruption here to a minimum.”

Crews from Hawes, Reeth, Leyburn, Richmond and Sedbergh attended the fire which was caused by a faulty thermostat in one of the cheese waxing machines.

Paul Edwards, station manager of Richmondshire district, said: “It is gratifying to know that the valuable service we provide to the Dales community is appreciated and this invitation from The Wensleydale Creamery clearly demonstrates how well-thought of my team is.

“It is also timely as we are currently looking for more volunteers to sign up and hope more will follow the lead of those we already have in the retained crew.”

David Hartley added: “In the wake of the fire, we were able to make alternative arrangements with production of our blended cheese range temporarily moving to our creamery at Kirkby Malzeard. This, together with the hard work and commitment of the Creamery staff meant that there was no impact with supplies to our customers and the Creamery was back to normal in a short space of time.”

• Photo shows: Front, Richard Jones and David Hartley MD, Wensleydale Creamery. Back: firefighters Steven Ward, Roger Iveson, and Stuart McLoughlin.