Catering Assistant Darlene Clay.
She’s the friendly face who has spent more than a decade looking after staff at our Service headquarters.
Darlene is at the heart of our Fire Family and loves knowing her delicious cooking is helping to sustain real-life heroes.
The 59-year-old from Peterlee is known for her popular homemade flapjacks and love of collecting magnets from around the world.
She joined the Service in September 2013 and is responsible for helping to provide catering for training courses and the restaurant at our HQ in Durham.
“The best thing about my role is being able to meet some amazing people who do life-saving jobs and being part of the fire service family,” she said.
“I also love helping volunteer at charity functions for The Fire Fighter’s Charity.
“I am proud to work for the Service as I get to see the fantastic job all staff do.
“I’ve made some life-long friends and over the years I have collected an amazing number of magnets from all fire service staff, including some from other fire services, which are displayed on the notice board at headquarters.”
Growing up, Darlene aspired to work in a children’s home and went on to have a number of different jobs before joining the Service.
This included working in a clothes factory, as a shop supervisor, and a catering supervisor in a school kitchen.
When she’s not at work, the mum-of-two loves to spend time with her four grandchildren and fiancé Iain.
“I enjoy looking after my grandchildren, spending time with my fiancé Iain and walking my dog Ruby,” Darlene said.
“I love to bake, especially cheesecakes, cakes and pies!
“I also love nothing more than a good catch-up with my best friends and spending time away at my fiancés home near Lincoln.”
