Daisy Byron is Area Fire Safety Manager at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, having transferred from Buckinghamshire to Bedfordshire in August 2019. She is also the brand new WFS Regional Rep (East) covering Beds/ Herts/ Cambs/ Norfolk/ Suffolk and Essex and we’re very proud to welcome her to the WFS National Executive Committee.
Our Regional Reps are our champions who represent, support and promote the aims and values of WFS at a regional level, organising committee meetings and promoting the network. They also support and develop local Service representatives and represent WFS at regional and local events.
Regional Rep aims high
Since being elected at our AGM in June, Daisy has been blazing a trail, being active on social media, presenting to her Service, and helping set up a website to promote the regional network.
Busy drumming up support, Daisy’s ambition is to get two local reps signed up for each Service in the region. One way Daisy is doing this is through the Facebook group she created for the East region, creating a real buzz and asking people to get involved.
“I am a manager in the Protection Team. I couldn’t be busier, I have a family, I have animals but thought I’d just give this a go! I’m looking for people in the East region who can support me by becoming a Rep for their Services ideally a minimum of 12 people, two from each County.”
“I have lots of ideas for the coming year and would love others support and input. The group will be a great place to network and organise activities, days out, camping, walking, lunches, dinners, and a whole lot more.”
Daisy’s mum, Chrissie Beckett, a real whizz with a sewing machine and a needle and thread, offered to make Daisy a WFS flag to raise the visibility of WFS.
“It will be handmade! It’ll be used for promotional pictures, hanging on my flagpole when I go camping and at events!”
Aiming higher
A returning delegate at our National Training and Development Event in June last month, Daisy signed up for Abseiling, Be a Firefighter, and the Drive an Appliance workshops.
“I was ready for an event full of new challenges, making new friends, and to connect with people I wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to, all in a safe environment. I made lovely new friends and met up with old ones that supported me 7 years ago when I was last there. Some people were nervous about the workshops they’d put themselves down for. I was. I was worried I’d cry. Which I did, and what did I get? A long warm hug.”
“I couldn’t wait to drive the truck, or to be a firefighter in a controlled environment. I LOVED it and will look to do more. I want to go higher and forwards! Instructors Angie and Lee were patient, kind, knowledgeable and genuinely brilliant. I’ll be recommending this to others wanting to go next year.”
Supporting young people into new careers
Daisy is passionate about encouraging young people’s dreams and aspirations and recently attended a school’s careers event in Luton to speak with pupils about life and careers in the Fire and Rescue Service and the path that led her there.
“In July I was invited to attend an event where I got to speak with a number of Year 10 students in a Luton school. There were a number of other professionals there ready to talk about their jobs and how they got where they were in their careers. I was given 60 seconds to talk about myself, and then the students were given a few minutes to ask questions.”
“Two young women I found to be an inspiration to me. They both knew what they wanted to do when they were older and they soon opened up and we had a great session. I am returning in the new academic school year to talk to girls about working in the Fire Service. This is a fantastic opportunity to reach out and empower them from a much younger age. I’m very excited about this.”
Thanks to Daisy for sharing her insights and aspirations!
Interested in supporting WFS as a local rep in the Eastern region? Contact Daisy by email wfs@bedsfire.gov.uk or join the WFS Eastern Region Facebook group here.