Hampshire firefighter handpicked gets one of London Fire Brigade's top jobs

Chief Officer Steve Apter of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has been handpicked to be London Fire Brigade’s interim deputy commissioner.

The dad-of-three will be in charge of special operations, resilience and organisational development in the capital.

ACO Apter, 50, from the Isle of Wight, who is the brother of John Apter, the Hampshire Police Federation chairman, said that becoming a firefighter was not part of his plan growing up.

He said: ‘I remember as kids John would dress up as a police officer but I had never considered the fire service.

‘I only became a retained firefighter because my cousin was doing it and said I should try it. I immediately know it was the job for me.’

ACO Apter, was a specialist in business start-ups in the midlands before picking up the hose as a retained firefighter for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service 26 years ago.

He has gone on to take a masters degree in strategic leadership at the University of Portsmouth.

The firefighter, who lives in Binstead, will take up the role on December 1 and will be working under interim commissioner Dany Cotton, the brigade’s first female chief.

He said: ‘I am extremely proud and excited to take on this role, and looking forward to working with Dany.’