TRIBUTES have been paid to a "hero" firefighter from Bewdley who has died following a battle with cancer.
Mick Rowlands, who served more than 40 years in the fire service, passed away in the early hours of March 6 at the age of 69.
He first joined Hereford & Worcester Fire Brigade as a retained fireman just in time for the hot summer of 1976, when the Bewdley crew travelled all over the county often following a list of fires and going from one to another.
This experience inspired him to pursue a full-time career in the fire service and in 1977, he was able to join the West Midlands Fire Service.
Initially, he was stationed at Halesowen, but he then served at Stourbridge and was promoted to leading fireman at Oldbury.
In 1984 he returned to Hereford & Worcester having been promoted to sub officer at Redditch and began a career of 33 years as a watch commander.
He married Jenny in 1987 and they would go on to have two children, William and Alice.
His fire service career saw him stationed at Kidderminster, Redditch and Bromsgrove before his retirement in 2017.
Paying tribute, his former colleague Mel Turbutt said: "Mick became one of the most experienced watch commanders in the country and was held in the greatest respect and esteem by the huge number of firefighters who came under his command over those 33 years.
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"His training sessions became the stuff of legend; he would often find a way of seemingly utilising every single item of kit from the fire engine and would spend many hours preparing practical demonstrations and lectures.
"Many of his former firefighters went on to promotion and became senior officers all over the UK.
“Make no mistake, he could have gone for further promotion at any time he wanted, but that would have meant more time in the office and less time responding to emergencies and Mick was, above all, a firefighter in the truest sense of the word, more than 40 years of service to the community is proof of that.
"However, it has to be said that his primary concern was always his family. Mick was not only a great firefighter, but he was also a great family man".
"Tragically Mick was diagnosed with inoperable cancer in mid-2021, although it was hoped that chemotherapy would control its progress.
"He fought the disease with the sort of courage and stoicism that we had come to expect from him, but towards the end of last year he and his family were told that nothing more could be done.
"They did absolutely everything they could to make his last few months memorable including having a flight in a vintage Tiger Moth. His beloved family were surrounding him in his home when he finally slipped away.
"Farewell Mick, a hero, a legend, a gentleman and my very good friend".
On Facebook, Ian Robinson described him as a "true legend" who "will be missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing him."
Jayne Collins said: "Such a lovely man. Always had time to listen. A true leader."
Mr Rowland's funeral will be held at Wyre Forest Crematorium on March 31 at 2.30pm.
Any donations made in his honour can be made by contacting B Inces Funeral Directors.
Donations will be split equally between Bowel Cancer UK and The Fire Fighters Charity.
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