Originally I come from a very technical background within the television and theatre industry, having started out as a stage manager in 1983. I was then briefly a stage management tutor at a drama school in London moving into corporate events and broadcasting in 1993.
Since then I have been self-employed in event production, which has taken me all over the globe to work on diverse and exciting events and occasions. My job has seen me in charge of royal ceremonial events at Horseguard’s Parade, launching a mobile phone network in Qatar, launching Microsoft software in Seattle, delivering a One Young World peace summit in Bogotá Colombia and working on numerous European Commission events across the EU as well as working on London Fire Brigade’s 50th birthday event ‘Safe in the City’ in 2016.
No two days are ever the same which is something that I love about my job. But I am always keen to explore voluntary opportunities that can offer me the chance to do work and visit more places locally. As a passionate and driven volunteer I currently hold three voluntary roles with the emergency services and not-for-profit sectors:
- British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Crew: based at Whittlesey Fire Station since 2011 in the role of deputy co-ordinator. Myself and the team attend fires, floods and power outages amongst other things, with a specially equipped vehicle, to support the community and blue light services. We also take part in emergency exercises and planning.
- East Of England Ambulance Service Special Operations Response Team (SORT) trained in 2012, this role involves setting up portable decontamination units and equipment, field hospitals, and other specialist equipment and temporary shelters which may be called upon in the event of a major incident.
- Royal Voluntary Service - Emergency Response team member since about 2007 to support Emergency Services as required.
CFRS Community Champion: And finally of course my role as a CFRS Community Champion, which I have been doing since 2012. Along with holding stands, talks and activities at regular events and conferences, I also work alongside the Community Safety Group to help plan and deliver Olive Branch training to domiciliary care agencies throughout Cambridgeshire. This involves the booking, coordination and supporting the delivery of the training which is aimed at equipping care providers with the necessary skills set and knowledge to identify and address fire risks within the home with regards to the most at risk group of vulnerable individuals, least likely to detect or escape in the event of a fire.