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THE QUEEN’S Birthday Honours List was published on 14 June 2008. The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) was delighted to learn of the inclusion of the following IFE members, whose achievements have been recognised:
CBE:
Frank Sheehan QFSM, MIFireE – chief fire officer, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service
QFSM:
Paul Austin – formerly group manager, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service
James Campbell MIFireE – chief officer, Fife Fire and Rescue Service
Paul Fuller MSc, MIFireE, MISM – chief fire officer, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service
Brain Hesler MSc, MA, BA, MIFireE – chief fire officer, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service
Max Hood MIFireE, BEng (Hons) – assistant commissioner, London Fire Brigade
Terry Standing MBA, MA, FCIPD, MCGI, MIFireE – chief fire officer, Gloucester-shire Fire and Rescue Service
William Strachan GIFireE – officer-in-charge, Stonehaven, Grampian Fire and Rescue Service
Geoffrey Taylor MIFireE – chief fire officer, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
Letters of congratulations have been sent to all of the above.
Knowledge and understanding
From recent reports in Fire Risk Management, members will be aware of developmental projects led by the Institution that have involved four UK fire and rescue services using the Institution’s examinations as a means of testing underpinning knowledge and understanding, particularly in risk-critical operational areas.
On 19 June 2008, at an event hosted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Andy Hickmott from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and Tony Proctor and Andy Brookes from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, presented their view of the rationale and outcomes of these projects.
The event was attended by 90 delegates from 44 fire and rescue services. The outcome was an overwhelming agreement of the need for structured testing of knowledge and understanding, with the majority of the organisations signing up to take part in the second stage of development, which will see IFE examinations adapted to the specific needs of the UK fire and rescue service. This will be delivered in March 2009 alongside the usual international examinations. This is a fantastic result for those who have worked so hard on these projects, and for the Institution.
Any UK fire and rescue services that could not attend the event or want further information should contact Louise Craig, the Institution’s general manager, on e-mail: louise.craig@ife.org.uk
Centre of Excellence
Members may be aware that the UK Government department, Communities and Local Government (CLG), has scrapped immediate plans to establish a national Centre of Excellence for the fire and rescue service in England. The proposal was to establish the centre at the Fire Service College and the home of the Institution.
The decision comes after a consultation exercise revealed that, while there was support in principle for a Centre of Excellence, fire and rescue authorities had underlying concerns over funding arrangements and the centre’s remit. They are unwilling to commit to the establishment of the centre until these concerns are resolved.
In light of the consultation, ministers have concluded that the centre ‘cannot be justified at this time’. However, the Government has stressed that it has not completely ruled out the possibility of establishing a new body in the future.
CLG says it ‘will continue to build on the work undertaken on developing proposals for a centre and explore how best to take forward issues identified in the consultation’.
As the journal went to press, the Institution’s board was due to consider its position at a meeting on 1 July 2008 and will no doubt wish to support the original concept of the site becoming the centre for the wider fire industry in the UK.
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