My name is Anthony Weir and I am a firefighter serving at Perry Bar Community Fire Station. At school I enjoyed science and sports but didn’t grasp the opportunities available to me, as I knew I was going into the family business. I spent several years in the car trade and also spent time teaching a car maintenance course. Yet, I always had a fascination for the Fire Service and as the years rolled past I would often wonder how I could join up.
My opportunity came when I was aged 36 years and was pleased to be told that there was no upper age limit 
for firefighters. From there, I decided to enrol on a Pre-recruitment Access course at Wolverhampton College to gain a proper insight into the Fire Service and to make sure I was prepared for the recruitment process. This gave me the drive, determination and confidence that had lain dormant within me for all these years and I applied to join the West Midlands Fire Service. I was successful and earned a well-deserved place at the training centre for my initial 13 weeks training.
After leaving the training centre and being operational for several months I realised the true meaning of the profession. You belong to an organisation that is diverse, exciting and respected worldwide. It is a disciplined service that provides the most valuable service to the community - saving life and protecting the community. I cannot think of anything more rewarding and fulfilling.
