Disciplined and regimented, the Nottinghamshire Fire Service represented the perfect antidote to years spent at art school. Audio Visual duties involved location and darkroom-based photographic work and experience with Sony U-Matic video equipment.

Based in Nottinghamshire Fire Service HQ at Bestwood Lodge, the AV Department was run by a veteran fire fighter Cyril Brocklehurst who previously worked at Central Fire Station. The department was closely allied to the Fire Prevention Division who had a requirement for PR and presentation material. We also worked at the Brigade Training School in Mansfield and the International FireTraining Centre at Eaton Hall, Retford.

Audio Visual staff accompanied Officers to real life incidents in order to produce investigation photographs. My first day was spent recording the wreckage of an oxyacetyline plant that had been destroyed by fire. Another incident involved a tower-block fire where ooccupants had jumped to escape the flames. There were emergency drills too, sometimes involving other emergency services, Government agencies and television crews.

In March 1985 the Brigade HQ was officially opened by HRH the Prince and Princess of Wales.
I was selected as a cameraman for the royal visit and received a commendation from Chief Fire Officer Peter Wilson for my contribution. The AV Department covered other celebrity events too: Anneka Rice and the Treasure Hunt production crew used the Brigade's helipad and telecommunications feed, and Brian Clough hosted a Sports Ground Safety seminar at the Forest Ground in the wake of the Hillsborough Stadium fire. Both photographs were subsequently published by the Nottingham Evening Post.

I shared my duties with another AV Assistant Dave Halls who was fanatical about video, American motors and rock music. He also had several years experience as a semi-professional drummer. After leaving the Brigade Dave and I remained in touch and he was eventually invited to play drums with Chris Richards and myself who were writing songs again on four track cassette.