Hannah Caulfield awarded prestigious King’s Fire Service Medal

Hannah is recognised in the King’s New Year's Honours List for her tireless commitment to supporting female firefighters and colleagues, helping to make the Service more diverse, inclusive, and supportive.

Throughout her career, Hannah has risen through the ranks from firefighter to group manager. Along the way, she has influenced the development of one of the most comprehensive maternity policies in the fire sector, strengthened support for pregnant women through peer networks and social groups, and worked with experts to raise awareness of menopause, while challenging stigma and shaping policies that foster understanding and inclusion.

Hannah has been instrumental in supporting Limitless, the Service’s women’s network, and has chaired the group since 2018. Under her leadership, Limitless has grown into a powerful support system that has influenced policy and positively shaped organisational culture.

Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, Alex Waller, said:

“Hannah is an exceptional colleague who thoroughly deserves this recognition. Through her dedication, vision, and commitment, she has become a leading figure in supporting and developing women within Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. Her recognition with the King’s Fire Service Medal is a fitting tribute to her achievements. I hope this award shines a light on the importance of diversity in the fire service and inspires more women to see firefighting as a career where they can thrive and make a difference.”

Hannah is currently Group Manager responsible for the Service's on-call fire stations and incident command training. She has developed mentoring and buddying schemes to support women through recruitment and early careers, alongside community events designed to encourage women to consider firefighting as a profession. Thanks to these initiatives, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has risen from 17th to 6th place nationally in the proportion of female firefighters it employs; making it more diverse and representative of the communities it serves.

Her impact has also been recognised beyond the Service. In 2022, she was named an “Exceptional Ally” by Women in the Fire Service. More recently, she was heavily involved in the creation of a career development programme designed with input from female firefighters, giving participants the confidence and skills to achieve their career ambitions.

Reflecting on the honour, Hannah said:

“I am extremely proud to receive the King’s Fire Service Medal. This honour is not just a personal achievement, but a recognition of the collective efforts of so many colleagues who have worked tirelessly to make Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service more inclusive and supportive.”

The King’s Fire Service Medal is one of the highest honours awarded to fire service personnel in the UK. It recognises exceptional dedication, bravery, and contributions to public safety and community welfare.