Page 10 - July 2019

THE SALAMANDER | JULY 2019
Past Master Bruce Hoad receives BEM
Director and Strategic Advisor, Operation Florian
project in Macedonia where he the loss of colleagues in tragic
Past Master Bruce Hoad BEM
It is with great pleasure and honour that we can report that our Past Master Bruce Hoad has been awarded a BEM under the Diplomatic Service and Overseas list in the Queen’s Honours list.
This is for his work as Director and Strategic Advisor for Operation Florian in the Republic of Moldova, given for services to emergency service personnel and vulnerable communities in the Republic of Moldova.
Bruce finished his operational service as Deputy Chief Fire Officer in Northamptonshire, although he still works in an advisory capacity for the service in East Sussex. He has been a member of Operation Florian since 2008 but was a supporter of its activities for a number of years before that through his roles in fire and rescue services, in which the Charity has members.
His involvement in the delivery of humanitarian aid began over 20 years ago when, through the Overseas Development Administration, Bruce worked with the Guyana Fire Service in South America over a two-year period. Since 2008 Bruce has been very involved with the Charity’s
has provided support and advice to the Project Manager and been involved in pretty much all aspects of the project’s delivery.
We would also like to recognise honours given to other members of the fire community:
QUEEN’S FIRE SERVICE MEDAL ENGLAND & WALES
Malcolm Livingstone COWIE, lately, Watch Manager, Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
Chief Fire Officer Mark HARDINGHAM, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.
Chief Fire Officer Paul HEDLEY, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service.
Group Manager Jeremy Peter LEONARD, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Watch Manager Joanne STEPHENS, USAR Team & Incident Investigation Team, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
Also noted was the MBE awarded to Veronica Anne Judith Adlam, Health and Safety Manager, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service for services to Firefighter Safety, for developing an essential guidebook supporting fire services across the country.
Veronica, from Waltham Abbey, was inspired to write a guidance document following the Harrow Court tower block fire in February 2005. The shocking incident resulted in two Hertfordshire firefighters and a member of the public losing their lives. Feeling there was a gap in support for fire services facing
circumstances, Mrs Adlam published ‘Death in the Workplace Guidance’ in 2006. The document has since become an essential handbook for fire services and colleagues nationwide.
Speaking about her nomination, Mrs Adlam, said: “I was astonished, I had to read it multiple times before it sank in.” “I thought it was a mistake, but I feel incredibly privileged and humbled to accept this accolade for ‘Services to Firefighter Safety”. The health and safety manager has worked for the Hertfordshire service for almost 19 years, joining as the first non-uniformed health and safety adviser. Mrs Adlam is a chartered member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and a member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM).
Her ‘handbook’ was published across all fire and safety units by The Chief Fire Officers Association (now known as the National Fire Chiefs Council) in May 2013. Other major incidents Mrs Adlam drew inspiration upon included working with a senior officer on the investigation into the death of a fire officer in June 2007.Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s director for community protection, Darryl Keen, said: “The whole of Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue service are immensely proud of Veronica whose MBE is so richly deserved in recognition of her many years of hard, diligent and dedicated work.”
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Robert Faquhar Editor