The SFE - Doc 72 Newmarket Fire Station
10th June 1998
X was in to work, in brigade training at Lowestoft well before 0900hrs. Main purpose for the early arrival was to catch hold of Mick Hyde and Mark Gilbert respectively the Lowestoft FBU branch chairman and secretary. Both were just finishing off a blue-watch night duty. Accordingly, X told both the FBU officials about DO Hodge’s telephone call and its brief content.
Having listened, Mick Hyde suggested that it would probably be best if he was present to observe the interview of X by DO Hodge that had been notified the day before. In the first instance he said that he had something to attend to but would be back on station before 10.00 hrs when DO Hodge was expected. Mick Hyde did return to the station before 10.00 hrs and kept a low observing profile while awaiting DO Hodge’s arrival from Ipswich.
DO Hodge did arrive at approximately 10.00 hrs or thereabouts. ADO Bob Middleton accompanied him. Once on board the station they proceeded via the front lobby staircase to the training department situated on the first floor. Mick Hyde had observed their arrival and passage upstairs.
On the first floor they proceed straight past the training department instructors office door. As they did this both looked sideways and looked down upon X. If ever looks could kill this was the appropriate gaze. A typical looking at you looking at me moment it was indeed, and also conspicuous was the silence. There was no acknowledgement between the DO, ADO and X. Anyway the superior officers passed on by straight to the end of the corridor and into ADO Paul Hayden’s empty office. By this time Mick Hyde had taken up a position in the Fire Safety offices that took up part of the first floor. And a good position it was; what with the entrance-door head height window looking along the first floor corridor. Standing just back from the window he could see everybody clear as daylight passing along the corridor. Not that much daylight ever penetrated into the corridor. But that’s metaphors for you init?
After DO Hodge and ADO Middleton had settled themselves down and made themselves comfortable the former then made his way into the training department instructors office.
On entry he belched out a solid rendition of ’Morning’ in his Boycey (from Fools and Horses) style accent. He seemed to neglect the fact that he had communicated his arrival earlier by derogatory body language.
At that time there was only X and Station Officer Jim present in the office. X echoed back ‘morning’ while Station officer Jim kinda stretched or elongated his neck round the open door of his private office partition to yelp a yappy ‘oh hiya’. He then fell silent and seemed to want to fade into the décor or shrink sufficient not to be seen. Not aware of Station Officer Jim’s self desire to become invisible DO Hodge begged to differ and began to strike up further conversation. This ended with DO Hodge saying that he wanted to sort some things out after he had dealt with X and that he should stay on station.
Having forewarned Station Officer Jim DO Hodge inflated his chest to try and look bigger and turned to X. ‘Right if you can follow me I’d like to speak to you in the ADO’s office.’
‘So just exactly what’s it about?’ asked X
‘Well I think you know, just follow me into the office and all will be revealed, if you don’t mind.’
DO Hodge was by now puffing his chest out further and becoming a bit irritated by the fact that X seemed to have the audacity to ask questions of what he was up to?
Anyway X got up and followed DO Hodge along the windowless and dimly lit corridor into the training ADO’s office with ADO Middleton already in there with a reporter’s notebook in hand. The latter seemed desperate for detail to etch in his blank notebook.
‘Right take a seat’ the tubular DO Hodge said. And X did.
With everybody sitting comfortably DO Hodge then went on to begin his spiel about what he was up to. In short this boiled down to the near miss submitted by X on 4th June 1998.
By now it transpires that Mick Hyde had light footed it down the corridor and was positioned with his lughole bang up against the door ear-wigging at what was going on. To the present DO Hodge had not yet informed X that he had been formally appointed as assistant investigation officer into the circumstances of the near miss.
DO Hodge then invited X to explain the circumstances of the near miss chapter and verse. The adjacent ADO Middleton seemed set on his marks with pen ready to scribble any reply.
Well anyway before X had chance to say anything there was a loud reverberating knock on the office door coupled with its simultaneous opening. With X looking round, DO Hodge and his pal gaping at the enlarging door casing as the door fully swung open, there stood the six foot two figure of Mick Hyde. All the more imposing a figure it was as well, what with him clad in his leather Harley biking gear.
‘I’ve been looking to find where you are’ said Mick Hyde.
For a brief second DO Hodge was a bit taken aback at the interruption but then responded with a sardonic ‘oh hello – do come in Mick.’ And he did.
What with the earlier ear-wiggling Mick Hyde was obviously aware of the unfolding events however, he responded with ‘What’s going on here then.’
Thinking on his feet, always difficult when sat down, DO Hodge said, ‘I’m glad you’re here as I was just going to ask the Sub if he would like a union rep to be present – thanks for coming’.
Then X chirped up and said ‘you were asking me to explain the near miss – you haven’t mentioned any need for a union rep.’
‘No no!’ that was just in passing, I didn’t mean it as an explanation in the way you think!’
Questions of what for, why etc were exchanged and then DO Hodge proceeded to hand a brown envelope over to X. The contents are Doc 73.
By now it was about 10.15 hrs
Inside the envelope were two copies of Doc 73. DO Hodge ordered X to sign one and retain the other. X did as ordered and handed it back to DO Hodge.
Do Hodge repeatedly specified that the investigation was solely related to near miss 294 and not into what X described as the DCFO’s unlawful deduction. Nevertheless, X took the opportunity to register the DCFO’s abuse of authority with DO Hodge and place the responsibility for reporting that behaviour with him. DO Hodge seem perturbed by the report to him, of an unlawful event by DCFO. In fact a little speechless.
X then said ‘right then I am ready for the interview which you notified me of yesterday.’
DO Hodge said that he had decided to defer the interview until later and proclaimed it would be the following Friday 18th June 1998. Seemingly uncomfortable in Mick Hyde’s presence he was at pains to stress the delay to carrying out the interview was due to a need to gather other information. He said he would be remaining at Lowestoft for the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon to get all the information he needed. He said he had to look at the accident book and interview the witnesses. After that the so-called conference broke up and the parties went about their business.
After tea break at approximately 11.00 hrs DO Hodge interviewed Station Officer Jim in his office. While that was going on ADO Middleton was busy checking up station records and obtaining photo-copies. He was also seen in the station watch room checking up on blue watch’s rota and asking when they were on and off duty. He was particularly interested in confirming if Blue watch was on or off duty the next day. Of course blue watch was Mick Hyde’s.
Both DO Hodge and ADO Middleton left Lowestoft Station later that morning and before lunch at 13.00 hrs.
X was in to work, in brigade training at Lowestoft well before 0900hrs. Main purpose for the early arrival was to catch hold of Mick Hyde and Mark Gilbert respectively the Lowestoft FBU branch chairman and secretary. Both were just finishing off a blue-watch night duty. Accordingly, X told both the FBU officials about DO Hodge’s telephone call and its brief content.
Having listened, Mick Hyde suggested that it would probably be best if he was present to observe the interview of X by DO Hodge that had been notified the day before. In the first instance he said that he had something to attend to but would be back on station before 10.00 hrs when DO Hodge was expected. Mick Hyde did return to the station before 10.00 hrs and kept a low observing profile while awaiting DO Hodge’s arrival from Ipswich.
DO Hodge did arrive at approximately 10.00 hrs or thereabouts. ADO Bob Middleton accompanied him. Once on board the station they proceeded via the front lobby staircase to the training department situated on the first floor. Mick Hyde had observed their arrival and passage upstairs.
On the first floor they proceed straight past the training department instructors office door. As they did this both looked sideways and looked down upon X. If ever looks could kill this was the appropriate gaze. A typical looking at you looking at me moment it was indeed, and also conspicuous was the silence. There was no acknowledgement between the DO, ADO and X. Anyway the superior officers passed on by straight to the end of the corridor and into ADO Paul Hayden’s empty office. By this time Mick Hyde had taken up a position in the Fire Safety offices that took up part of the first floor. And a good position it was; what with the entrance-door head height window looking along the first floor corridor. Standing just back from the window he could see everybody clear as daylight passing along the corridor. Not that much daylight ever penetrated into the corridor. But that’s metaphors for you init?
After DO Hodge and ADO Middleton had settled themselves down and made themselves comfortable the former then made his way into the training department instructors office.
On entry he belched out a solid rendition of ’Morning’ in his Boycey (from Fools and Horses) style accent. He seemed to neglect the fact that he had communicated his arrival earlier by derogatory body language.
At that time there was only X and Station Officer Jim present in the office. X echoed back ‘morning’ while Station officer Jim kinda stretched or elongated his neck round the open door of his private office partition to yelp a yappy ‘oh hiya’. He then fell silent and seemed to want to fade into the décor or shrink sufficient not to be seen. Not aware of Station Officer Jim’s self desire to become invisible DO Hodge begged to differ and began to strike up further conversation. This ended with DO Hodge saying that he wanted to sort some things out after he had dealt with X and that he should stay on station.
Having forewarned Station Officer Jim DO Hodge inflated his chest to try and look bigger and turned to X. ‘Right if you can follow me I’d like to speak to you in the ADO’s office.’
‘So just exactly what’s it about?’ asked X
‘Well I think you know, just follow me into the office and all will be revealed, if you don’t mind.’
DO Hodge was by now puffing his chest out further and becoming a bit irritated by the fact that X seemed to have the audacity to ask questions of what he was up to?
Anyway X got up and followed DO Hodge along the windowless and dimly lit corridor into the training ADO’s office with ADO Middleton already in there with a reporter’s notebook in hand. The latter seemed desperate for detail to etch in his blank notebook.
‘Right take a seat’ the tubular DO Hodge said. And X did.
With everybody sitting comfortably DO Hodge then went on to begin his spiel about what he was up to. In short this boiled down to the near miss submitted by X on 4th June 1998.
By now it transpires that Mick Hyde had light footed it down the corridor and was positioned with his lughole bang up against the door ear-wigging at what was going on. To the present DO Hodge had not yet informed X that he had been formally appointed as assistant investigation officer into the circumstances of the near miss.
DO Hodge then invited X to explain the circumstances of the near miss chapter and verse. The adjacent ADO Middleton seemed set on his marks with pen ready to scribble any reply.
Well anyway before X had chance to say anything there was a loud reverberating knock on the office door coupled with its simultaneous opening. With X looking round, DO Hodge and his pal gaping at the enlarging door casing as the door fully swung open, there stood the six foot two figure of Mick Hyde. All the more imposing a figure it was as well, what with him clad in his leather Harley biking gear.
‘I’ve been looking to find where you are’ said Mick Hyde.
For a brief second DO Hodge was a bit taken aback at the interruption but then responded with a sardonic ‘oh hello – do come in Mick.’ And he did.
What with the earlier ear-wiggling Mick Hyde was obviously aware of the unfolding events however, he responded with ‘What’s going on here then.’
Thinking on his feet, always difficult when sat down, DO Hodge said, ‘I’m glad you’re here as I was just going to ask the Sub if he would like a union rep to be present – thanks for coming’.
Then X chirped up and said ‘you were asking me to explain the near miss – you haven’t mentioned any need for a union rep.’
‘No no!’ that was just in passing, I didn’t mean it as an explanation in the way you think!’
Questions of what for, why etc were exchanged and then DO Hodge proceeded to hand a brown envelope over to X. The contents are Doc 73.
By now it was about 10.15 hrs
Inside the envelope were two copies of Doc 73. DO Hodge ordered X to sign one and retain the other. X did as ordered and handed it back to DO Hodge.
Do Hodge repeatedly specified that the investigation was solely related to near miss 294 and not into what X described as the DCFO’s unlawful deduction. Nevertheless, X took the opportunity to register the DCFO’s abuse of authority with DO Hodge and place the responsibility for reporting that behaviour with him. DO Hodge seem perturbed by the report to him, of an unlawful event by DCFO. In fact a little speechless.
X then said ‘right then I am ready for the interview which you notified me of yesterday.’
DO Hodge said that he had decided to defer the interview until later and proclaimed it would be the following Friday 18th June 1998. Seemingly uncomfortable in Mick Hyde’s presence he was at pains to stress the delay to carrying out the interview was due to a need to gather other information. He said he would be remaining at Lowestoft for the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon to get all the information he needed. He said he had to look at the accident book and interview the witnesses. After that the so-called conference broke up and the parties went about their business.
After tea break at approximately 11.00 hrs DO Hodge interviewed Station Officer Jim in his office. While that was going on ADO Middleton was busy checking up station records and obtaining photo-copies. He was also seen in the station watch room checking up on blue watch’s rota and asking when they were on and off duty. He was particularly interested in confirming if Blue watch was on or off duty the next day. Of course blue watch was Mick Hyde’s.
Both DO Hodge and ADO Middleton left Lowestoft Station later that morning and before lunch at 13.00 hrs.
posted by Bert Blythburgh at 11:49 PM
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