Underfire by Ray Chilton

Here at last is a cracking autobiography by a fireman that encompasses every aspect of the human condition as encountered by firemen all over the world on a daily basis, from deeply moving tragedy, intense personal bravery, via hilarious hi-jinks, to the darker sides of life - terrorism, riots and even sexual depravity.

…No previous author has been as honest, forthright and insightful as Ray Chilton. He really tells it like it is. There are many marvellous stories of the amazing jobs Ray has attended in the London Fire Brigade, where more than half his professional life was as a Station Officer at Soho. Ray does thousands of incidents, his hard working men and his many lifelong friends in the Brigade proud in the telling of their work.

Underfire is also a book about leadership. Through his very revealing text Ray gives insight into the mysterious art of leading men, resolving conflicts, team building, helping men through grief and personal loss and the skills of running a tight ship. It reminds us where modern leadership has mostly lost its way, particularly in the so called ‘modernised’ fire service. It is an inspirational read. Ray dares to say what most firefighters think but cannot say. The book reveals how barmy and badly run modern public service organisations have become – there are dozens of prime examples of political correctness gone mad, hopeless middle and senior management in all its most depressing glory, with dreadful decision making being imposed on the front line firemen and the ever-present management disease of ignoring good advice when it comes up from the shop-floor. The fact Ray and his like-minded colleagues continue to serve the public with such dedication and loyalty despite this is a tribute to everything that a front-line firefighter embodies.

Martin Lloyd-Elliott

Author, City Ablaze