With over 64 years of combined service, Watch Manager Bryan Davies and his daughter, Firefighter Katrina Davies, have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the community of Talgarth.
Watch Manager Bryan Davies
Watch Manager Bryan Davies began his firefighting career as an On‑Call Firefighter at Talgarth Fire Station on 5 October 1982 and has since become the station’s longest-ever serving Firefighter. Growing up in Crickhowell, he was fascinated by the Fire and Rescue Service from an early age. Before personal alerters were introduced, a siren would sound from the top of the local fire station tower, and Bryan and his friends would race to Crickhowell Fire Station to watch the crew turn out in their engine.
The year 1982 was a landmark one for Bryan, he married his wife Jennifer, welcomed their daughter Katrina, moved to Talgarth and joined Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS), then the Powys Fire Service. When Bryan’s new next-door neighbour, an On-Call Firefighter, asked if he’d consider joining Talgarth Fire Station, he invited him to the station for a chat and a point‑of‑entry test. At that time, the test consisted of climbing a wooden ladder on the station’s drill tower – which would sway, rolling out a length of hose and carrying a casualty.
He recalls:
“The ladders were not for the faint hearted. They would swing in and out as you climbed and the tripod drill tower they were pitched against swayed as well - it was no joke!”
After successfully completing the test, Bryan started his 12-weeks of station-based training and began responding to incidents in March 1983. During his career, Bryan has witnessed major changes in the Fire and Rescue Service, especially in personal protective equipment (PPE). In his early days, the fire kit consisted only of a non-fire-resistant tunic and helmet, yellow plastic leggings which had to be cut to size and standard wellington boots, with no gloves or flash hoods. Bryan recalls his tunic catching fire during an attic fire and Firefighters’ ears burning while tackling fires.
Alongside improvements to PPE, Bryan has also seen significant improvements in the fire engines used to respond to emergencies.
Bryan added:
“The appliances we use have changed drastically over the years. When I joined in 1982 the station had a Bedford TK appliance, which had a manual, four-speed gearbox, no power steering, no high-pressure hose reels and no road traffic collision (RTC) equipment.
Thankfully, today’s modern appliances are far more advanced, they’re like driving a big car.”
After a remarkable 44-year career, Bryan will retire from the Service in October this year. His retirement will mark the end of more than four decades of commitment, professionalism and exemplary service to the communities he has protected.
Firefighter Katrina Davies
With her father beginning his career as an On-Call Firefighter when she was just two months old, Firefighter Katrina Davies has been surrounded by the Fire and Rescue Service her entire life.
Growing up, she was always intrigued when her father’s alerter sounded and never missed the station’s annual open days. Television shows such as Fireman Sam and London’s Burning also fuelled her interest, especially the latter, which showcased female Firefighters and helped her see a place for herself in the role.
Towards the end of 2005, at the age of 23, Katrina decided to apply to join MAWWFRS and completed her initial training in January 2006. Only a few days after completing her training, Katrina responded to her first incident, a chimney fire in Bronllys.
Like her father, Katrina has seen many changes to the Fire and Rescue Service and in the role of a Firefighter during her career. She has witnessed the digitisation of the ongoing training provided as part of the role, significant improvements to kit and PPE, and changes to crew numbers over the years.
Speaking on her role, Katrina said:
“It’s a highly rewarding job and you get a lot out of it.
You gain invaluable lifesaving skills, develop both personally and professionally, and become a respected figure within your community.”
Serving the Community of Talgarth
When responding to incidents and working on the fire ground, Bryan and Katrina set aside their family relationship and operate strictly as colleagues, each with their own defined roles and responsibilities.
Their dedication and commitment to the community of Talgarth and beyond have been recognised several times over the years. Most recently, in March 2026, Bryan and Katrina were presented with the Powys Silver Kite Award, for their dedication, professionalism and contributing tirelessly to local events and fundraising. At a presentation held at the Castle Hotel in Brecon, the pair were awarded by the Chair of Powys County Council, Cllr William Powell.
One thing they are both keen to highlight is the support they’ve received from their family. This support is often underestimated and undervalued. Without the support of Bryan’s wife and Katrina’s mother, Jennifer, plus the wider family, there are times when they wouldn’t have been able to respond to incidents.
30 Years of MAWWFRS
Since its formation in 1996, MAWWFRS has grown into one of the UK’s largest fire and rescue organisations, serving a wide and varied landscape, from rural villages and coastal towns to busy urban towns.
Throughout this time, our teams have responded to thousands of emergencies, championed fire safety and prevention and continually adapted to new challenges with professionalism and resilience.