Rod Hammerton named as Shropshire's new chief fire officer

Former deputy, Rod Hammerton has stepped up to the role to replace John Redmond who has retired.

He said financial challenges to the fire service would continue and more savings would be made as the service strived to improve and understand the public's needs.

Mr Hammerton has a long history working in the fire service.

After a short career in the Royal Navy, Rod joined the fire service in Hampshire in 1992 as a firefighter, initially serving at Eastleigh Fire Station, near Southampton.

During the next 15 years of service in Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Rod served at several stations in in the Portsmouth area and at headquarters before moving to South Wales Fire and Rescue Service to take up the role of Head of Operations.

After three years in this role, Rod was promoted to Assistant Chief Fire Officer with responsibility for a number of specialist and technical references including planning for the Olympics, Ryder Cup and the Nato Summit.

Rod then moved to Shropshire in 2014 to take up role of deputy chief fire officer.

Mr Hammerton said the chief fire officer's role was to work with the Fire Authority and partners to make sure the service remains safe, sustainable and effective at protecting communities as the country moved into "a period of uncertainty."

He added: "The key to this is to engage all the stakeholders whether they be the politicians who lead us, the communities we serve, our partners in public safety or the staff who really understand the business in hand.

"We know this period of austerity in the public sector is far from over but Shropshire Fire and Rescue hasn't used that as an excuse to lower their standards.

"I intend to harness this positive culture of public service, innovation and professional pride, that I have already found in abundance, to put Shropshire's safety first and further improve the wide variety of work that we do in the county."

He said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his first two years living and working in Shropshire.

"It is a wonderful place to live and bring up my family and all the people I work with are fully committed to public safety and hugely professional."

Originally from Portsmouth, Mr Hammerton is married with three children.

The two eldest have just successfully completed university studies while the youngest starts school in September.

A former rugby player and keen cyclist, Rod enjoys riding in "the beautiful hills and flatlands of Shropshire.

He will be based at Shropshire's fire HQ in Shrewsbury.