The Suffolk Hyde Affair - Doc 1 Suffolk Firefighter

The Suffolk Hyde Affair a Brief Introduction

Where, Who and what is the Suffolk Hyde Affair all about you may ask? Is it some medieval Suffolk ritual or practice? Perhaps it is a practice that is on a par with the Eddie Woodward Wicker Man character, which has survived into the modern age in the dark discreet hinterland of Suffolk?

‘Tell you wot,’ as Andy Gilchrist might say, the answer to this is a most certain no. That said if you stick with us and follow this biographical story to the end, you might be left with the impression that medieval custom and practice is most certainly still alive and well in the 20th & 21st century Suffolk Fire Service. But then again you might not. Main point being and central to this sites philosophy is that you reader should decide who is right, wrong and in possession of the moral high ground. Therefore, rest assured that what you read is truthful, accurate and unedited documentation.* Editorial comment will be kept to separate documentation and mainly reserved to fill in gaps of understanding for those who are not familiar with UK Fire Service practice.

So, best we make a brief mention of the cast of characters. The leading role belongs to Michael Hyde who was employed as firefighter the UK Suffolk Fire Service between 1974 and 2002/3. For much of his service he served at Lowestoft during which he was a long-term Fire Brigades union official. He was also awarded the Long service and good conduct medal after twenty years in the job. In the final stages of his service he became known as firefighter Y. This title being given him by Professor Roy Lewis, who on behalf of ACAS reported on Suffolk Fire service management practice in 2002. A good deal of Professor Lewis’s analysis focused upon the disciplinary treatment inflicted of Y between 1999 and 2002. Stick with this site and the chronological events key to that episode will be revealed.

As for other characters at the vanguard of this biography? Well, so as not to become too bogged down in detail its best to let them come to the surface as the story is rolled out. Nevertheless, there are certainly at least a couple of characters vying for parity as leading actors and upon whom you might like to make judgement. Namely, Mr Kenneth Seager & Mr Graham Smith, who respectively currently hold the rank of DCFO & ACFO in the now Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service.

Whatever, you the readers decide what to make of all this. The first document in the chronological series begins with the temporary promotion of Y to leading firefighter on 27th September 1998.

* Actual words are unedited. However, readers should be aware that corporate logos are not reproduced