Man gives up crazy, crazy nights to work every day

A FORMER rock ’n’ roll publicist said he is “proud” to serve the community as a firefighter.

Chris Battye, 54, grew a desire to contribute positively to society following the covid pandemic.

In 2020, he lost about 95 per cent of his work due to the cancellation of concerts and tours, including those for Kiss and Def Leppard, for whom he worked.

He began volunteering for St John Ambulance as a vaccinator and began questioning his own role in society.

Mr Battye said: “I had just moved to Goring, 500 yards from the fire station, when I saw a big notice saying they were hiring.

“At this point, I had just turned 50 and questioned what I had done and this seemed pretty cool.”

Mr Battye applied and completed physical, mental and practical tests before joining as an on-call firefighter in May 2021.

He completed a two-week basic training programme, learning skills including hose operation and then learnt to use breathing apparatus, road traffic collision and driving a fire engine.

Mr Battye then found himself in a leadership position as an acting crew manager in October 2023.

He said: “I found myself being shouted at, running round a drill yard, training to become a firefighter, which was a weird feeling.

“I went into the fire service not having to have any responsibility and just wanting people to tell me what to do but it’s become my responsibility to make decisions on the ground that hopefully benefit the incident for a positive conclusion.

“I still don’t know how I ended up here but I’m grateful for the opportunity because it’s given me a lot in my life.”

In the last four years, he has attended a wide array of emergencies from serious accidents to flooding and also fitted smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

“My first call-out was a fatality,” he said. “I was very excited when the pager went off and I got my kit together and rushed out of the door.

“I came back five hours later very sober. I was so aware of what had happened in the incident and the effect on their family and friends. Things like that have left a deep impression on me, but I still feel incredibly proud to have helped in some way.”

In the last 10 years, fire and rescue services in England have responded to 20 per cent more incidents.

According to Oxfordshire County Council’s fire and rescue service, the number of on-call firefighters in the county has decreased by three per cent during this time, with a decline in the hours they can provide.

Mr Battye, who said that the fire service is an area that should not be cut, praised Goring Fire Station. He said: “The Goring crew comprises 13 on-call firefighters, requiring a minimum of four with specific skills per truck.

“We have a great crew who are very committed and make a lot of sacrifices in their personal life to make themselves available.

“It’s a really important resource and you don’t realise that until you get called to a house fire and realise the devastation it can cause.

“House fires and car accidents won’t stop happening. People lose everything, and that’s not just about material things.”

Mr Battye added that the job has given him a sense of pride. He said: “Rock ’n’ roll is all about partying. It’s selfish and hedonistic. I had to abandon all those things to become the person I am now.

“For example, I never owned an iron until about four years ago because you don’t need it in the music industry.

“It’s nice to have discipline, look smart and cleanly shaven, to show a certain level of professionalism and, for me, that’s a privilege.”