The Suffolk Fire Experience - Doc 157 Aldeburgh Fireman Vacancies

Interested in other Suffolk Firefighter tales then check out “The Suffolk Hyde Affair” athttp://thesuffolkhydeaffair.blogspot.com/

Events Friday 31st July 1998

Overall a fair summer’s day it was for the last day of the Lowestoft Air Show. The Town was busy and swelled with an estimated 100 thousand plus holidaymakers and aircraft anorak’s all after good spots to view the free show. Also busy was the organisation corporate Suffolk Fire Service. What with extra cover being dedicated to protecting the large volume of visitor’s Lowestoft Fire Station was a real hive of activity.

As for X it seems that somebody had volunteered his services to crewing the Fire Service’s Benevolent Fund caravan/stall that was plonked slap-bang in the middle of Lowestoft promenade with the prime purpose of fund raising by the hard selling of naff gift products to Joe public. And quite a good job X and his sidekick Geoff Long did that day. Whatever, X was stuck on Lowestoft prom from about 11.00 hours until just before 17.00 hours.

Whence back at work X spoke to George Moran the duty Sub Officer for the coming evening shift. Uncharacteristically, good old George had been hanging about the Station all day long. Best we don’t go into why. It’s a long story.

Anyway, according to George it seems that ACFO Ken Zeager-Wanker, as George put it, had been trying to get hold of X throughout the afternoon with repeated harassing calls to the Station. Incidentally, George was non too impressed with Mr Seager who had written a him a malicious reference when seeking to join Norfolk. You see Kenny was previously the Brigade Training Officer at the rank of Divisional Officer and George’s line manager when George did a stint in the Training Department. Thing is “good old boy” Ken Seager didn’t show him the reference before he attended the interview. That fell to the Norfolk officer doing the interview who asked if George was aware of what Kenny had said about him.

To which George said, ‘no.’

‘Oh I see’ said the Norfolk bod who then went on to say ‘I think I better let you have a look then’.

All in all the reference was a bit of a stinker and basically said George was a right tosser and that Ken most certainly couldn’t recommend him to a potential employer. So no love lost there and probably explains George’s derogatory name calling. We think the phrase twat was also repeatedly used.

Also it seemed that after his failed attempts to contact X Ken Seager had also delegated the task of getting hold X to Brigade Control later in the afternoon.

With George talking to control it seems that he prised some detail of what all the rush and urgency of Ken Seager’s desire to get hold of X might be about. According to control Ken Seager and his senior colleagues Chief Fatty Alcock, DCFO Simon Large-Smith and the scheming Fagan like ACFO Trebor Tinley and a whole host of other sycophants had held an urgent meeting at BHQ during the afternoon. It was the outcome of this meeting that resulted in Ken Seager desperately trying to get hold of X.

Well what with X being run off his feet and having been as frentic as a time-share sales rep trying to shift the Benevolent fund tack all afternoon and as it was past 1700 hours he told George that whatever it was Kenny boy was after it could easily wait till the following Monday. ‘Yeah I don’t blame yer’ said George as X cycled off home for a relaxing weekend.

So, X having got home it wasn’t long before the phone rang. Wonder who it was disturbing the peace at X’s home?

Good guess. Not only but also ACFO Ken Seager. Strange but this was the first call X had received from Kenny at home. So, a peculiar development. Maybe Kenny was inviting X to a round of golf or a candle light dinner? Somehow don’t think so. Especially, as X isn’t a freemason

First response from X being, ‘I don’t take workplace telephone calls at home.’ If you wish to discuss any workplace matter please contact on Monday morning. Bit of a red rag to a bull that. As Kenny then went into one and expunged a high volume of colourful abusive language.

In the first instance, Kenny told X that he required him to be recalled to duty at Lowestoft Fire Station to receive a package from Station Officer Graham Saward.

Once again X said he did not take phone calls related to work matters at home and that Kenny should deal with the matter on Monday morning. In addition, there was no union representation available at short notice on a Friday night. To which Kenny said ‘ the FBU can’t help you or anybody else for that matter, you don’t need them to receive a package.

‘I can’t see no reason for returning to work unless there is an emergency said X.’

From colourful abusive language Kenny’s tone ratcheted up to threats and orders.

In essence Kenny ordered X to return to duty immediately. He went on to say that if X did not return to duty at Lowestoft Fire Station to meet with Station Officer Graham Saward then Kenny would report the matter as a disciplinary offence.

Under such malicious duress X did return to Lowestoft Fire Station immediately (1745 hours). He remained there in the general company of George Moran until 1930 hours when Station Officer Graham Saward arrived from Ipswich to hand over the A4 brown envelope/ package containing documents.

On arrival Graham Saward went into the Station office before the hand-over to telephone Kenny of his arrival. He said little more except, ‘don’t shoot me I’m only the postman’ finishing with a giddy giggle.

So the hand-over took place and X put the package under his arm and turned to walk off. The Graham Saward said, ‘you have to open it in front of me to check it out.’

‘Pardon’ said X.

In a strained anxious voice Station Officer Saward repeated himself, ‘you have to open it in front of me to check it out.’

X paused for a moment and then retorted, ‘no it’s addressed private and confidential to me, I’ll put it in my locker and open it on Monday morning.’

‘No no your not supposed to do that’ said Graham Sawood in what was by now an even more anxious strangulated voice.

But X was by now marching down the green tiled corridor toward the muster bay to stick the package in his locker where it stayed until Monday. Seems that X adlibbed and went off Station Officer Saward’s script. Suppose he then had to tell Kenny there had been an amendment to the script.

With hindsight and reflection it was apparent that ACFO Ken Seager had no right to order X to return to duty. In short, his behaviour may potentially be defined as an act of Abuse of Authority. Most certainly his abusive behaviour inherent in the telephone call to X’s home is an arguable prosecution of Suffolk County Council harassment policy.

So, all in all another potential breach of the Fire Service (Discipline) Regulations (1985) by ACFO Kenneth Seager.

For sure a rhum old boy is good old Kenny in he?

As for what’s in the brown envelope/package? See Doc 160 onwards.