DWFRS firefighter says racism at school scarred relationships later in life
Sam Allison says he had to physically fight at a young age because of his skin colour.
Last updated 30th Oct 2020
A BAME Dorset and Wiltshire firefighter has told us that receiving racial discrimination as a child has scarred some of his relationships with colleagues later in life.
Sam Allison said that he's subsequently second-guessed how work bosses treat him, his perception affected by "having to fight" at school due to his skin colour.
He claims that these feelings were triggered by the fire industry's notoriously demanding, military-based training methods.
"You start to think well, if you're spoken (to) in a particular way, is it because of (ethnicity)?
"It's that command and control, and actually (being told) 'I need you to do that now, because it's important'.
"It's that discipline side of it (the job)".
The Watch Manager is based at Trowbridge Fire Station, part of the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS).
He's also a Level One Football League referee, in the vast minority of BAME officials for professional football in England.
'I could see myself as being George Floyd'
Speaking as part of Greatest Hits Radio's Black History Month coverage, Sam told us how George Floyd's death in America earlier this year - and the subsequent Black Lives Matter movement - affected him:
"It opened certain emotions.
"I could see myself for example as being George Floyd ... it resonates so deeply that you feel that you can't be silent.
"But it's so difficult to make change, if you're not in positions where you can influence change".
Sam then asked his employers how a more diverse workforce could be achieved - Great Western Hospital has also received similar questions from staff this year:
"I just wanted to know: is it on the radar? What are we doing? Are we going to be trying to recruit more (BAME workers)?
"I just wanted there to be a bit more drive, or a bit more impact, or a bit more efficient".
He hailed the response of DWFRS as being "absolutely fantastic".
DWFRS has now appointed Sam into an Equality and Diversity role.