Rachael joins brother in brigade
SIBLINGS MAKE HISTORY WITH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
Rookie firefighter Rachel Ramanayake has created a first for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service – she is joining her brother on the front line.
The 27-year-old, from Cleadon, has fulfilled her life-long ambition to be a firefighter after becoming one of the service’s latest recruits.
She joins her brother Jonny Ramanayake, 29, a crew manager at South Shields Community Fire Station, with the pair becoming the service’s first brother and sister firefighters.
After her 15 weeks intensive training, Rachel took up her role as a firefighter on Sunderland’s Green Watch at Sunderland Central Fire Station last month.
About 5,000 aspiring firefighters applied for the role in the first recruitment drive since 2010.
Rachel is one of 23 new recruits joining the service.
She said: “It was someLike thing I’d always wanted to do and I had watched Jonny growing up loving every single second of the job.”
Jonny, 29, from East Boldon, joined the service straight from college in 2008, aged 19.
his sister, he said being a firefighter was something that he always wanted to do, and couldn’t be happier to see Rachel take on her dream job.
The father-of-two said: “She has put in a tremendous amount of effort. I am very proud of her. I can remember what it was like doing it myself and I know it’s not easy.”
During the training process, Rachel said one of her biggest challenges was running – having always preferred gym work – but said the support from those on the course was amazing.
The pair say their parents Anne and Rohan couldn’t be prouder.