Name: Keith Diamond
Job: Duty Control Commander
Joined: 1971
I joined the Brigade’s control centre just over 38 years ago and I haven’t left the Brigade since. When I joined I was only 18 and through the years was given many career progression opportunities. One of my personal highlights was when at the age of 23 I was promoted to area controller, managing one of the three area control rooms at Wembley, and at the time was the youngest control officer with that rank in London.
In nearly 40 years with the Brigade, I’ve worked in many different roles across London, from starting as a control officer back in 1971 and progressing to training officer in charge of training new entrants, to supervising the whole of control centre on mobilising issues. During 7/7, whilst acting up as assistant principal controller, I provided support to the Blue Watch Duty Control Commander in charge of the capital’s control room. My current job sees me taking charge of 24 control officers on our shift - the ‘Red Watch’.
Being a control commander is about ensuring that the Brigade delivers prompt 999 emergency response, that the right number and type of fire appliances are sent to each incident and that we are fully trained and prepared to respond to any major emergencies, from big fires and collapsed buildings to chemical incidents and even terrorist attacks. We are also responsible for developing alternative emergency response routes for major events like the Nothing Hill Carnival or the London Marathon during which some of our key travel routes can be affected.
No day is ever the same in the Brigade’s Control, even after nearly four decades. It can be quiet on one day and absolutely manic on the next. In August 2004, for example, in the space of four to five hours our control staff took more than 2,000 calls during the major flooding in West London.
I thoroughly enjoy working in the Brigade’s Control and on most of the days come home with a great feeling of satisfaction from being able to help people and being there for them in those stressful times when they dial 999.
