London Fire Boss Richard Welch Joins Avon Fire as Assistant Chief
Big news from Avon Fire & Rescue Service! Richard Welch, the Deputy Assistant Commissioner at London Fire Brigade, is set to take up the role of Assistant Chief Fire Officer later this year. The announcement came after the People and Culture Committee’s Employment Panel met on August 9 and picked Welch from a strong field of candidates.
Top Marks for Welch in Tough Competition
Councillor David Wilcox, Chair of the Employment Panel, said: “We were delighted with the number of high-quality applications for the Assistant Chief Fire Officer vacancy. After a thorough recruitment process, we are confident Richard is the right person to help lead the Service forward on its journey of continuous improvement.”
Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton added: “Congratulations to Richard on his success in such a competitive process. His vast experience will undoubtedly boost the effective and efficient services we provide our local communities. He’s a fantastic addition to the team.”
From London Fire Stations to Leading Major Incidents
Welch’s fire service career began in 1996 at London Fire Brigade. He cut his teeth across South East and South West London, eventually spearheading the Local Intervention Fire Education (L.I.F.E) project in East London—a scheme that earned him the prestigious Mayor’s London Day Award in 2003.
- Promoted to Station Manager in 2009 at East Ham and then Poplar Fire Stations.
- Became Borough Commander for Bexley, then Southwark and Lambeth.
- Rose to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in 2017, focusing on regulatory fire safety.
- Between 2019 and 2022, covered roles as Deputy Assistant Commissioner for London’s South East and North East.
Welch is no stranger to high-pressure situations. He was the Incident Commander during the Grenfell Tower disaster and the Parsons Green terrorist attack—both declared Major Incidents. He’s bagged numerous awards for operational bravery, leadership, and community work. Notably, he’s a former RNLI lifeboat crew member with a bronze bravery award to his name.
New Challenges Ahead in Avon
On his appointment, Welch said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Avon. This is a fantastic service filled with brilliant people doing brilliant work. I can’t wait to meet everyone and use my experience to make our communities safer and strengthen the Service.”
Off-duty, he’s a family man with four grown sons and five grandchildren. He enjoys cycling and travelling when he’s not fighting fires.
