Meet your Fire Fighters

Tony Williams
Sometimes a new recruit to the Martinborough Volunteer Fire Brigade already has a full set of credentials. Tony Williams had 21 years with the London Fire and Rescue Service (UK) working up the ranks during his career finishing as Watch Commander with 2 engines and crews. It was a busy London Station with high-rise buildings, the Underground, Embassies, and incidents on the River Thames.

Along with the serious nature of the job, there were some humorous incidents. One of his first fires was a ‘shed alight’ and in his haste to impress his officer, grabbed a hose, charged down the driveway, stepped in a bucket and went headfirst through a fence. After his fellow firefighter tramped past, the officer strolled up, shined his torch on the heap on the ground and said “very impressive! What’s your encore?”. The officer managed to give him a good report and they became long-time friends.
His knowledge and experience is an asset he readily shares with the Brigade, along with the many stories he so masterfully can deliver.

Tony and Jenny have been married 40 years with 4 children and 7 grandkids. After many extended holidays here after retiring, they moved here permanently in 2012.

His role in the Brigade is Operations Support which means he can provide help such as road traffic control at accident scenes, safety officer, or organising food and water for the firefighters. Tony is always finding ways to make the Brigade operate better and safer. He has demonstrated to members how to test our wooden extension ladders, helped design and build a portable wall with a door to practice entry and fire attack techniques, painted the new kitchen, and cleaned equipment. This has been a great help to assure the readiness of our operations.

It’s not all work though as Tony and Jenny are members of the Carterton Dance Club and the Martinborough Bowling Club. They enjoy travel and he spends time in a very neat workshop.

After a long career in the fire service in London, why did he volunteer in Martinborough? At first he said he was reluctant to come to the station to have a look, to see what it was like as a volunteer, worried that he had little to offer and would not be welcomed. Now he admits it was the opposite. “If you think you might be interested get over your fear of coming in and introducing yourself. Someone will show you around and there is no pressure to join. We need fully operational fire fighters and some operational support member to get the job done.”