Name: John Rides
Station: Southmead, previously Patchway and Temple
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Age:40
Year joined AF&RS:
1987
Position at AF&RS: Watch Manager
Hobbies: Mountainbiking and being outdoors,
I have two young daughters so not much biking, and outdoors usually
means the swings and slide.
Favourite food:Chicken Fajitas
Favourite drink: Real ale
Favourite place: In the hills.
Why did you want to become a firefighter?
While at sixth form I lost my sense of direction and ended up in a
careers office. A computer suitability test recommended three
possible jobs. Air cabin crew and forestry were the first two and I
didn’t think I would be any good at forestry.
The third suggestion was the fire service. The rest is
history.
Did you have any fears about becoming a
firefighter? I think my mum had more fears than I
did.
Did you do much physical training before joining
AF&RS? I had always enjoyed cycling so I
wasn’t in bad shape. I did eat a few pies and go to the Gym
though, as I was a little on the skinny side.
How hard did you find training school? I
had no idea how hard it was going to be. Definitely the hardest
four months of my life. Times have changed though and attitudes to
training are also different. After three haircuts and being dressed
down for dirty shoes as many times in the first week I wasn’t sure
I’d see it through.
How was your first day on shift? Nervous. It’s a
job you soon get comfortable in though. You work along side some
great people and job satisfaction is a big plus.