A woman who made history in the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has been awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal in Her Majesty’s 90th birthday honours list.

Station manager Sally Harper, who recently became part of the first mother and daughter team to serve as firefighters at the same time, has been recognised for her dedication to the fire and rescue service.

April 8: Mother and daughter firefighting team installed at Tooting

Mrs Harper, from Purley, joined the brigade in 1988 when there were only seven female firefighters in the whole of London. 

Since joining, Mrs Harper has been at the helm of work to make the brigade more inclusive and there are now 300 female firefighters.

One of those is her own daughter Katie Holloway, and the pair became the first mother and daughter team to serve together when Mrs Holloway took her role at Tooting fire station in April. 

Mrs Harper said: "I was completely surprised. Receiving the award this year is extra special as not only is it the Queen’s 90th birthday it is also the 150th anniversary of the London Fire Brigade.

"The Brigade has progressed such a long way over my career and my daughter’s experiences of the job is so much better than when I joined nearly 30 years ago.

"My locker was in a cupboard, which I had to go through the men's changing rooms to access. After giving birth to my first daughter, Joanne, I was the first firefighter to come back to station after having a baby and attitudes towards women in the fire service were sometimes very challenging.

"It's so heartening to hear Katie's experience has been completely different and that everyone has welcomed her on the watch and been so supportive."

Mrs Harper said she had not made the changes on her own, but they were a marker of how far things had come since the brigade was founded.

She called the award the "icing on the cake".

London fire commissioner Ron Dobson said: "I am delighted that Sally has been recognised for her work, not only in London, but across the country in making the fire service more inclusive and accepting of women.

"As we celebrate the history of the London Fire Brigade this year it is fitting that one of the pioneers of women in the fire service has been rewarded by Her Majesty for her unwavering dedication to the job."