Oldham firefighter given top award for service to community

Aaron Lee received the Chief Fire Officers Commendation last month. 

The Chadderton-born firefighter is most widely known for not only saving lives, but for his work with the victims and families who suffered in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. 

A suicide bomber detonated a device while fans left an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people, many of them children and teenagers, and injuring more than 800 while thousands more sought help and support.

Aaron was one of the first responders on scene, and founded the Manchester Remembers Foundation, which sees celebrities and football legends go head to head in a charitable match with all funds going to the victims and families affected by the attack.

Aaron says he is now close with many of the families affected after working with them since 2018 and has raised more than £170,000 for them. 

Now, he has been awarded the top award after his colleagues and station manager secretly nominated him. 

Aaron received a certificate and medal to mark his voluntary and fundraising efforts (Image: Aaron Lee)

The award was presented to Aaron officially on July 11.

He said: "I was shocked, and very proud because it's the highest honour you can get in the fire service.

"But I'm never in this for awards, and I'm not being modest or humble but I do it because I was part of the arena attack and I'm close with the families and really care about the cause.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm really proud to have got it but I'm just going to continue as I am in doing what I do."

Not only has he worked with the victims of the arena attack, but has helped the lives of others by inviting them for VIP days at the station including tours and free access to the fire engines. 

He has done this with multiple people, including then 22-year-old Laura Nuttall who had been battling with glioblastoma multiforme since 2018, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, following a routine eye test.

Laura, from Barrowford, had been working to tick off her bucket list goals after being told she would have just 12 months to live, and Aaron invited her and her parents down for a day at Oldham Fire Station as part of this in 2022.

Laura Nuttall sadly passed away in May 2023 (Image: GMFRS)

Aaron has also helped others like this, such as a young girl who was the victim of an assault by bullies at a tram station and then four-year-old Theo who was also suffering from cancer.

Aaron said: "What we do with this fundraising for the arena victims and with the visits as well, it makes such a massive difference to them, so I'm just going to carry on."

Aaron also received the British Citizen Award on July 25, and was invited to Westminster with his family for the coveted national recognition of his efforts in volunteering.

He said: "It was an incredible day, but again, I'm not in it for that.

"My family were really proud and it was quite a special day and so unexpected.

Aaron Lee received a British Citizen Award also (Image: Aaron Parmar)

"I think with the visits to the fire station, for us as firefighters, it's just our day job and we forget that we have quite a cool job in the community.

"And so for me, it's no effort and it's just a case of reaching out but I think the thing I get most satisfaction from is seeing how much they enjoy it, especially Laura and little Theo.

"They get to come and have free access to a fire station and fire engine and seeing what it does to them, and even if it just gives them a little break from cancer or whatever they're going through, then for me that's job done."