Regional Officials

Tam McFarlane

Executive Council Member for the South West FBU

Contact: tam.mcfarlane@fbu.org.uk   Mob: 07813 170279

First elected as Executive Council Member in 2006 and subsequently re-elected with increased numbers of nominations in both 2010 and 2014, Tam McFarlane is the senior Official for the South West Region of the Fire Brigades Union. A Firefighter in Somerset for 20 years, Tam has risen through the FBU ranks, serving as an Official at every level in the Union. He has served FBU Members as a Branch Official, a Health & Safety Official and Brigade Secretary for Somerset before progressing to regional level. His first regional position was as the South West Regional Secretary before being elected as Executive Council Member.

Tam heads up a high profile and very effective regional Union team, which is highly regarded across the region’s trade union movement and has a hard-earned reputation for:

    •    Effective campaigning
    •    Fighting cuts
    •    Delivering trained Officials to serve FBU members in every Brigade

Under Tam’s leadership, the team has also won Trades Union Congress (TUC) awards for its high profile campaigning work and has been recognised as the main innovators of social media and modern communication within the FBU UK Regions.

Tam has extensive experience across the trade union and working class movement.  Not only has he served on the Executive of the South West TUC, but he has also represented, and spoken on behalf of, the FBU at the national TUC for seven consecutive years. Tam has spoken on platforms alongside Tony Benn, Bob Crow, Brendan Barber and Ken Loach and has campaigned for firefighters & the Fire and Rescue Service at every political level, including directly to the UK Cabinet Office and the European Parliament.

Having served his full career in the South West,Tam has developed a comprehensive knowledge and appreciation of every duty system served by all FBU members. Also, his technical knowledge of Fire Service issues has seen him appointed to several national FBU and Fire Service Boards and committees.

He plans to continue building the reputation and effectiveness of the South West Region FBU by continuing to deliver a strong and united Union, which serves individual members and fights for the collective.

Trevor French
Regional Secretary
Contact: trevor.french@fbu.org.uk   Mob: 07967 018757

Trevor transferred to Devon Fire & Rescue Service in 2001 after spending 7 years in Surrey FRS. He enjoyed the time spent working on fire stations in both Surrey and Devon and this has helped his understanding of both urban and rural brigades.

Union wise, Trevor was a Branch Rep in Surrey and continued his involvement with the Union following his transfer.  He ended up as Devon’s Brigade Secretary in  2005 (not sure how that happened!!) and following the combination between Devon and Somerset FRS’s in 2008, was elected as the new Brigade Secretary which was and still is an honour.

Trevor's plan for the next four years is to fight against the cuts we are all facing, keep the Grey Book alive and continue the fight over pay and pensions.

Kevin Herniman

Regional Chair
Contact: kevin.herniman@fbu.org.uk   Mob: 07870 250297

As the Regional Chair for the South West Region FBU, Kevin has a reputable history in both the Fire and Rescue Service and the Union.

With almost three decades of service at Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Kevin has worked in positions including Avon Brigade Chair, Avon Brigade Secretary, Roving ULR at the Avonmouth, Speedwell and Bath branches.

Wherever he has worked, Kevin has been politically involved in the trade union movement and has held FBU positions at all of his branches: Health and Safety Representative, Branch secretary, Branch Chair, Minutes Secretary and Representative to Brigade Committee.

Kevin’s strong commitment to the FBU led him to pass on the opportunity to retire in 2007. Instead he continues to provide essential support to regional members.

It also worth noting that Kevin is the self-proclaimed “oldest tea maker in the Region”!

Val Hampshire
Regional Treasurer
Contact val.hampshire@fbu.org.uk Mob 07970495231

Having worked for the fire service for three decades, Val is a Watch Manager in Emergency Fire Control with Dorset & Wiltshire FRS as well as South West FBU Regional Treasurer.

Throughout her time with the service, she has held various positions within the FBU including Branch Representative for Control, Brigade Vice Chair and Regional Control Staff Committee Member.

As Regional Treasurer she works with other Regional Officials to assist FBU members. Val also has the responsibility for the budgets and works closely with the Regional Officials to ensure the smooth running of the region.
 

Regional Administrator