Fire chief follows in family footsteps

Sep 5 2008 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SIMON Pilling has been appointed Chief Fire Officer of West Yorkshire, the country’s fourth-largest brigade.

And at 42 the Skelmanthorpe man is following in the footsteps of his grandfather.

James Henry Pilling became Chief Fire Officer of Leeds City Fire Brigade exactly 60 years ago, also aged 42.

Sadly, he died as a result of injuries received in a fire in Wellington Street, Leeds, in 1954

Mr Pilling, now Deputy Chief Fire Officer, will step up on Monday when Phil Toase retires.

He will also become the chief executive of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority.

After joining the West Yorkshire service 23 years ago Mr Pilling was posted to Ossett fire station as a firefighter.