Indulging my love of sailing and all things boating and working as sales assistant in a busy chandler’s

2005 - To 2009I was responsible for dealing with, liaison and planning for scheduled and un-scheduled events within the County of Berkshire e.g. Royal Ascot, Reading Festival, Henley Regatta, State Visits, civil disturbance, epidemic/pandemic.I have to liaise with and advise all managers of the Fire Authority. Liaise with other Emergency services, agencies and organisations. This includes external contractors and some government departments, I was a responding fire officer for the Fire Service, this involved responding to incidents to supervise crews, take charge and manage the incident or be part of the incident command team for larger incidents.Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service 1999 – 2005Central Team Watch ManagerI was responsible for direct support to the Group Manager A Central Team and for carrying out general staff duties, collation and preparation of crewing and officer cover statistics, organisation and administration of special events and specific training activities, co ordination of certain functions of the retained units, maintenance of equipment, monitoring and approval of station expenditure. ! Provided day to day support as required to the Response Group Managers, Station Managers and the Retained Duty System Liaison Officer. I was responsible for arranging, conducting and reporting Retained Station audits and, where required, monitoring corrective actions. Assisted the Team Group Manager with specific projects and to co-ordinate specific functions relating to the retained units such as officer attendance, training and general support.I supported and/or was responsible for the organisation of operational exercises.I attended operational incidents as required in support of the organisation and team.Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service 1979 – 1999Crew ManagerI served as an operational firefighter at various fire stations in Berkshire

Contingency Planning consultant, covering all aspects of Contingency Planning especially Business Continuity, Security, Risk Management and Event Planning.

I joined the Navy for life as a Seaman at 18 years old and through the special selection process was promoted to Leading Seaman and qualified to Petty Officer very quickly; at the time of my compassionate discharge in 1979 (which was arranged to help look after my Father who had been diagnosed with severe Multiple Sclerosis) I was waiting to be offered a commission to become an officer.