A FORMER high-ranking fireman has retired as president of Kirklees Fire Prevention Panel.

Trevor Tetlow had many years experience in fire prevention and fire safety and had been a member of the Huddersfield-based panel since 1986.

The panel has about 30 members and is a way for fire officers and businesses to liaise and stay up to date with the latest legislation and equipment.

It meets at Huddersfield fire station about four times a year.

Panel chairman David Scholfield, managing director of Holme Valley Fire Protection, said: “Trevor has been a big inspiration to businesses and his knowledge of fire protection and fire safety is insurmountable.’’

Mr Tetlow said: “The number of changes that have happened over the last few years due to European Union directives is quite staggering.

“West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been one of the leading brigades in the country in reducing the number of deaths from fire due to its community initiatives.

“Kirklees has also led the way for councils in terms of fitting smoke detectors.’’

Mr Tetlow, 67, started his firefighting career in 1969 at Dewsbury fire station and served at the training centre in Birkenshaw and then as a sub-officer in Wakefield.

In 1980 he was promoted to station officer in Bradford, where he moved into fire safety, which became his field of expertise.

After three years teaching fire safety at Birkenshaw he was promoted to Assistant Divisional Officer in 1986 and moved to the Huddersfield fire safety department.

After spells in Dewsbury and Halifax Mr Tetlow retired at the end of 1996.

He is married to Margaret and the couple live in Drighlington.

They have a daughter, Jayne, and son, Michael, who is a watch commander at Wakefield fire station.

They have three grandchildren.