Words and pictures by Wendy Pike

TRIBUTES have been paid to a woman who spent 46 years working for the fire service, including more than a quarter of a century running the county's central control room.

The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service family turned out in force for the funeral of Val Pluck and bid farewell to a dedicated colleague, who won The Queen’s Fire Service Medal, awarded for distinguished service, as well as The Chief Fire Officer’s Special Commendation for being the longest serving member of staff.

Essex chief fire officer Adam Eckley said: "It was really important that the Fire Service family gave Val the most fitting of send-offs as a tribute to the work she did over many, many years.”

“Val is probably the only person that will have dedicated 46 years to the Fire and Rescue Service here in Essex and there are many generations of firefighters, myself included, that value and respect the work that Val did on behalf of our service but also for the public of Essex, Southend and Thurrock."

Born in Tilbury in 1947, Val lived in the town with her parents and a few years later her little brother, John, joined them.

She went to primary school in Grays, passing the 11 Plus.

In 1963 Val met her future husband, Peter. They married two years later when she was just 18, initially living in Grays.

Val took her first job with Essex Fire Service at Grays Fire Station in 1967, taking calls on a dolls eye switchboard by physically plugging and unplugging wires and writing records by hand and regularly dealt with large, 40 pump fires as well as huge fires which started on ships in port.

The couple moved to Ingrave following Val’s promotion to principal fire control officer in 1986.

Control was centralised at headquarters, then based at Hutton. During this time Val was honoured with the Queen’s Fire Service Medal.

Back in the early eighties, without realising the significant role they would eventually play, Val was responsible for installing the service’s first computer.

In a joint project with Essex University, fiddly microfiche records were replaced by an efficient but large and noisy Apple computer.

In another joint university project Val worked on developing a new computer programme which helped to improve response times.

Beyond the county Val’s expertise was keenly sought by other brigades and she sat on many regional and national committees. She also got involved in supporting the Fire Fighters Benevolent Fund charity.

A vintage fire engine from the Essex Fire Museum in Grays and a contemporary appliance from Brentwood formed part of a Guard of Honour at Bentley Crematorium along with dozens of uniformed control room staff, firefighters and management.

Tributes were led by the Rev Rob Binks, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service chaplain.

He said: “Everyone who lives in Essex has benefited from Val’s work.

"She used her skills and knowledge to develop the mobilising and control systems that serve the county today.

“She was a highly valued and highly experienced member of the service who cast vision of what could be and then had the determination to see it become reality. Val helped to inspire and train the next generation."

In a personal tribute to his wife of more than fifty years, Peter Pluck said: “Val was a very special lady who will be deeply missed, an amazing person and a wonderful wife.”

Donations in Val’s memory are being co-ordinated by Bennetts Funerals of Brentwood in aid of the Fire Fighters Charity.