TOGETHER they notched up nearly 40 years at Oxfordshire’s Fire & Rescue Service.

But this week Pete and Jo Cleary retired for a well- deserved break.

The Harwell couple have both left the service so they can pursue a new business renovating homes.

Mr Cleary, who turned 50 on Sunday, was an area manager and senior figure behind county safety campaigns, with Jo, 43, having served as a part-time firefighter for 10 years, as well as a worker in the safety office.

They are now looking forward to running their business, but also spending more time travelling, gardening and taking up hobbies like watercolour painting.

Mr Cleary started in 1987 as a part-time retained firefighter at Abingdon Fire Station and fought fires in yellow plastic leggings and cork helmets.

But since then he has been a full-time firefighter at Oxford’s Rewley Road and Slade Park fire stations, worked as training instructor and station manager. He has dedicated the latter part of his career to promoting fire safety and prevention, including the 365alive campaign supported by the Oxford Mail.

During that time he has seen smoke alarm ownership across the county increase massively, but says dangerous driving is still one of the most serious concerns.

“I have seen enough deaths and serious injuries to last a lifetime, and most of that is on the road,” he said.

“On the flip side, cars are a lot safer now and it is very rewarding to hold someone’s hand as you cut them out of a vehicle and look after them.

“You work on a big team with other emergency services and I’m proud to have been able to help people.”

He met Jo through work and they married in 2010, on the Caribbean island Aruba, off the Venezuelan coast.

They each have two sons from previous relationships.

Mrs Cleary, who was a part-time firefighter at Didcot Fire Station, said she would urge more women become part-time firefighters.

“Ten years ago I thought I couldn’t do it, but it has been really rewarding to work in a team and learn new skills,” said. “It gives you confidence in life and I think more women should do it.”

Rather than a quiet end, Mr Cleary’s final few months have seen the fire service called to tackle two of the most serious fires in recent memory, at the South Oxfordshire District Council offices in January and the Randolph Hotel in Oxford last month.

He added: “I have had quite a diverse career and that’s what I have enjoyed about this job.

“Now we’ve got an opportunity to have a new adventure, so that’s really exciting.”