OXFORDSHIRE’S top firefighter is moving on after 10 years of keeping the county safe.

Chief fire officer John Parry, a key figure in the emergency flood operation in 2007, is standing down as a uniformed firefighter following 31 years of service.

The father-of-two joined Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service as second in command in 1998 and took the top job in 2000.

In 2007, he was awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal for distinguished service.

Mr Parry, 54, had previously served the county as station manager of Didcot Fire Station in the late 1980s.

And just hours before he handed in his car’s blue lights and siren earlier in the week, he was called on one last time.

Mr Parry said it was a small kitchen fire in Oxford and added that, thankfully, no-one was hurt.

It was one of the smallest incidents Mr Parry has attended in his 31 years of service. The largest blaze he ever tackled was actually on his first day on the job in 1979.

“It was 35 fire engines and lasted for seven weeks,” said Mr Parry.

“It was at Wallasey Docks in Merseyside and involved grain storage in these seven- or eight-storey warehouses.

“We were there through the nights and there were very, very big rats. It wasn’t nice.”

He said the 2007 floods, the biggest operation in the Oxfordshire brigade’s history, had been exhausting but added: “There were a lot of positives things in terms of people helping each other.”

Mr Parry, who lives in Wheatley, said he was leaving the service with mixed emotions and added he was proud of the brigade he led for 10 years.

He said it had also been a great honour to work with colleagues and to help the community.

He said: “I wouldn’t say it’s the best job in the world, but I have friends that look on with some envy because you have been able to help people and that is the great thing.

“It has been a privilege.”

Mr Parry, who is also the county council’s director of emergency planning, community safety and shared services, will continue with the local authority before leaving early next year.

He said he was looking forward to spending time with his family and will be pursuing interests outside of the fire service.

Oxfordshire’s deputy chief fire officer David Etheridge will succeed Mr Parry.

Mr Etheridge, from Abingdon, joined Oxfordshire fire and rescue as a retained firefighter more than 25 years ago.

Oxfordshire County Council chief executive Joanna Simons said: “John has been an inspirational leader. We will miss him greatly.”

Mr Etheridge added: “It will be a tough task to follow John who has led the service with real distinction.”