However, the 52-year-old has not fully retired and will continue fighting fires and saving lives in the district as a retained firefighter for his home village of Yaxley.

Rodney first joined Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service as a young lad of 22, first serving as a firefighter at Dogsthorpe fire station, before making the switch to Stanground.

He said: "Firefighting is something that I have always wanted to do, so as soon as I got the opportunity to apply I did, and I have never looked back.

"It's quite unlike any other job. Your colleagues become part of your extended family, and there is a tremendous amount of job satisfaction from helping people in your local community."

Rodney has mostly worked as a full-time firefighter and crew manager at Stanground fire station.

Although during two six-month secondments in 1994 and 1998 he took up a post at the training centre in Huntingdon, bringing other full-time and retained firefighters up to speed on the latest lifesaving skills and firefighting techniques. During this time he was promoted to watch manager.

As his retirement loomed, Rodney decided to go back to the frontline and resumed his duties as a firefighter at his old station in Stanground until his retirement earlier this year.

He now intends to spend more time with his wife and two grown up children.

He will also continue to serve the people of Yaxley both as a retained firefighter for the village and also as a councillor on Yaxley Parish Council.

Chief Fire Officer for Cambridge-shire Fire and Rescue Service Graham Stagg said: "I wish Rodney all the best in his retirement and thank him for the 30 years he has dedicated to the service and for his continued efforts as a retained firefighter in Yaxley."