Meet the globe-trotting Blaydon man who’s swapped his hearse for a fire truck

From the Australian outback to Canadian mountain treetops, this Blaydon man has finally found his home - in a fire truck.

A newly qualified firefighter has been given a fresh lease of life after giving up his job as an undertaker.

In their biggest recruitment drive in years, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Services (TWFRS) have welcomed 32 new recruits this autumn, totalling 100 over the last 18 months.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

One new recruit who passed his exams in the latest recruitment drive, Graham Cartwright, has swapped his hearse for a fire truck after a keen desire to keep his community safe.

From Blaydon, Cartwright started in the Fire Cadets back in 2005, and although he knew he wanted to be a firefighter, was unable to pursue his dream at such a young age.

The 31-year-old chose to travel the world after being inspired on adventure weekends during his time in the Fire Cadets.

From teaching treetop challenges in Canada to working on a cattle station in Australia, Cartwright has spent much of his life away from the North East.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He returned just before the pandemic from living the high life in the French Alps and found himself looking for work when he came across a role as an Undertaker.

Cartwright said: “I’ve always been interested in helping people and I’m the type of person who goes for anything when it comes to jobs as long as it’s interesting.

“There is a lot of trauma as you can imagine, and during the climate when I was an undertaker it was extremely tough but I think it’s helped me prepare for this role.

“You see people at their lowest moments and you have to help them through it, and I think that experience is really going to help me when I go out onto my station and I’m attending jobs.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cartwright was enjoying his role as an undertaker but applied to TWFRS when his mum, Barbara, let him know they were hiring new recruits.

He said: “This job incorporates everything I like doing into one, I get to help the public and be there for them during stressful situations as well as keeping my community safe.

“On the training course, I’ve found it great to be among people who are so different but also have the same mindset they want to be here and it makes it more enjoyable.

“And although it’s coming to an end, when we come to a job there could be a chance that we will bump into each other and get to find out what they’ve been up to and how they are getting on.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On Monday, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Lynsey McVay, welcomed Graham and his fellow recruits into TWFRS and encouraged more of the region to become part of the family.

She said: “This recruitment drive is one of the biggest we’ve had in years and it’s great to see people with all sorts of work experience want to come and be firefighters.

“I’m so proud of how hard our recruits work to make sure they are in the best form possible when they get on station which reassures our community that we are working hard to keep them safe.

“Graham has worked all over the world gaining lots of varied experience but still keeping people at the heart of everything he does which is exactly what we do here.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s heart-warming to know that Graham and many of our recruits are fulfilling their dreams of becoming a firefighter.

“I know exactly how incredible the experience can be and if they enjoy it even half as much as I have I will be so happy.

“Anyone can be a firefighter, you just have the determination, the heart and people at the core of what you do - we can teach you the rest.”

Cartwright and his fellow trainees passed out on Friday, December 17th, after completing a string of classroom-based assessments.