The Suffolk Hyde Affair - Doc 254 Leiston Fire Station Drill Night

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8 The Bretts
Kesgrave
Ipswich
IP5 2YY

Lowestoft Fire station
PO Box 54
Lowestoft
NR32 2QA

23rd June 1999


Dear Mr Wigglesworth

Discipline Case – Ff M Hyde


I refer to your letter to me dated 1st June 1999.

You ask me to attend Mr Hyde’s forthcoming discipline hearing as a witness for his defence. Firstly you make reference to the presentation of various documents sourced by myself which are highly relevant material facts of the case. Secondly you indicate that I will also recall my involvement in the grievance raised by Mr Hyde.

With reference to your first point I do not believe that I am in possesion of any relevant facts that will assist in his defence in his forthcoming discipline hearing.

In relation to your second point, you are correct that I was involved at the appropriate stage in the grievance submitted by Mr Hyde, and you are of course aware of the outcome of my decision on the grievance, which was clearly recorded and sent to Mr Hyde.

Finally I would point out that I find your comments “I am also led to believe that you are an FBU member so must be willing to act as a witness for a fellow member”, as totally unacceptable. They are a challenge to my integrity.

An individual’s membership of the FBU or otherwise is not an issue when I am carrying out my day to day duty, be it the hearing of grievance cases, the investigating of alleged breaches of discipline, or my involvement as a witness in any particular case.

I cannot believe that the FBU would expect me treat their members any differently from any other serving firefighter or officer in such matters, a point I have also made to the FBU Brigade Secretary, Mr C Hayward.

As already stated I do not believe that I am in possession of any relevant facts that will assist in the defence of Mr M Hyde, and therefore based on this fact alone, I can see no justification for my agreeing to act as a witness in his defence.

Yours sincerely

CF Hodge, BSc, M.I.Fire.E.

As you will no doubt have heard Firefighter M Hyde has been charged with the above offence 13th April 1999.

I understand that you were approached and offered the Leading firefighter position on a temporary secondment to Lowestoft blue watch in early December 1998. This matter is of considerable interest to the discipline case, indeed it contradicts in part the rationale held for Firefighter Hyde’s dismissal from post.

Bearing the above in mind I would be extremely grateful if you could pass comment in statement form on your view of the situation. In particular, I ask you to confirm if you were offered the post above and if so when this actually was. At the same time, if you can recall, I would be most interested in establishing if you were given any particular reasons as to why you were offered this particular post. If there is any other factual information you feel may be relevant please include it in your statement.

Just to remind you the document might be used in Firefighter Hyde’s discipline case. As such it is important your statement should be accurate and true to the best of your knowledge.

Please ensure your statement is returned to me as soon as possible. In anticipation I thank you for your assistance.


Yours faithfully



A Wigglesworth BSc, MBA, G.I.Fire.E.