Release date: 28 August 2025
Hundreds of people attended Chichester’s first Emergency Services and Community Day on Sunday.
Held in Oaklands Park, the free event attracted families and people of all ages to learn about the work of the emergency services and enjoy live demonstrations, performances, and activities.
A highlight of the day was a joint demonstration of a road traffic collision with a twist carried out by police, fire and rescue, and ambulance crews. The show drew a large crowd who watched on in anticipation as the team arrested a bank robber and rescued an alien from an upturned car!
A helicopter landing from Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance was a star attraction, and the park was filled with emergency services vehicles from across the ages offering visitors the chance to climb aboard and learn about their different roles.
In the dedicated community zone, families enjoyed a magic show and performances from local musicians, while younger visitors explored the bouncy castles and fairground rides on offer. People could also browse a range of stalls from local charities, organisations, and small businesses.
Anton Mezzone, Station Manager at Chichester Fire Station, said: “The aim of this event was to bring our emergency services partners together to showcase the work we do to the communities we serve.
“We really wanted to inspire young people to become our next generation of emergency services and armed forces personnel, so I was delighted to see so many children and families in attendance.
“It was a real community event drawing visitors from across the city and beyond, and featured more than 100 local organisations, charities, and small businesses.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in the organisation and planning of the event, and everyone who came along on the day, for making it such a success.”
The event was organised by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service in collaboration with South East Coast Ambulance Service, Sussex Police, HM Coastguard, West Sussex County Council, Chichester District Council, and Chichester City Council in support of the Fire Fighters Charity.
