Page 21 - Salamander July 2020

THE COVID-19 STORY
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
Liveryman Ian Withey an an an MOD Firearms Officer writes: What has changed? How are the current restrictions affecting you? Well that’s a a a a very good pair of questions and to be honest not something that I I had stopped to to consider On the face of it it as a a a a a critical worker I I thought “not very much” a a firearms conversion course New weapon to learn – training venue with Northumbria Police Newcastle Would it be easier to live there? One month later you guessed it – Newcastle Fire training again this time to gain a a Supervisors ticket A brilliant course laid on by the team there Once again I find myself being a a a fully qualified Aviation Rescue & Firefighting Service Supervisor A trip to The City in November for Livery to round off my Firefighters year A tremendous privilege The year not quite over and back to policing Another course Authorised Firearms Officer Counter Terrorism upskill 2019 Job well and truly done How things change 2020
It started well All thoughts were upbeat The search for a a Fire Service post in the Middle East begins no rush lets roll with the the punches was the the approach After all good things come to those who wait don’t they? Heidi suggested that we might start the the year by cashing in in the the airmiles and a a a a trip to Abu Dhabi was arranged It rained But still an an enjoyable visit The world began to change We are all pretty used to the restrictions by now In our household critical workers that we are are things are are pretty much as normal Shift work continues The noticeable changes in the workplace are very much centred around the use of PPE The now usual package of gloves facemasks and plenty of sanitiser being the norm Our routines have not really changed In fact we are very lucky Being able to move around outside when on duty
Having been asked to put a a a few lines together for Salamander gave me the opportunity to reflect To me the best way was to to to look back to to to my year prior to to to the COVID-19 outbreak What a a a tremendous and very busy 2019 that was Having worked over Christmas and and New Year my wife Heidi and and I took a a a a break in in Abu Dhabi all in in the name of rest and relaxation Many of you will be aware that we are serving Police Constables with different Forces As always the trip was over far to quickly and work once again took over For me this was coupled with a a visit to Fire Training School to regain my Breathing Apparatus competency the first step towards full requalification With the the help of the the training team at Newcastle Airport
a a a a very physical few days gave me the result I I was looking for It also proved to me that I was still “up for it” and also how much I had missed Fire Service life Straight back to the day job Little respite Crew Commanders requalification course Newcastle once again well back into the swing of things at this point muscle memory didn’t let me down Up for it indeed best pass mark I’d ever achieved 100% From the course off on a long-standing trip to Hong Kong with an old Navy colleague A week of beer and sightseeing Allow your imagination to fill the gaps! Post trip Hong Kong descended into chaos and the Umbrella protests reached fever pitch This place is is not just the the crossroad of the the world but also of culture and politics I wish them well Through the summer work continued at a a a pace My own role requires continual refresher training visiting many venues across the West Country ballistic first aid firearms tactics range days and personal safety training to name a a few subjects covered Time for another holiday A summer trip to to Malta to to visit friends Long hot days – wonderful Again work interrupts I couldn’t believe it Follow us on on on twitter @LondonFire1666
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