Voting Station

Frank Bailey (Firefighter)

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The Resume

    (November 26, 1925-December 2, 2015)
    Born in British Guiana (Guyana)
    Firefighter, trade union representative, and social worker
    First black full-time firefighter in London (1955-65)

Why he might be annoying:

    There is some dispute over whether he was the first black firefighter in the UK. (There are unconfirmed accounts of some British cities hiring black auxiliary firefighters during World War II.)
    His three marriages all ended in divorce.
    His obituary in 'The Guardian' described him as 'an avowed Communist.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    While working in a New York City hospital as a medical assistant, he led a successful walkout demanding integration of the dining facilities.
    He applied to be a firefighter after a delegate from the Fire Brigades Union told him that black people were 'not educated or strong enough' for the job.
    While in training, he saved another firefighter who fainted during ladder drills on the fifth floor of a building.
    He left the fire department after a decade of being denied promotions while white firefighters were promoted ahead of him.
    He became the first black legal advisor to youthful offenders at Marylebone Magistrates Court.
    Eighty firefighters provided a guard of honor at his funeral.
    London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said, 'Frank was a pioneer and rightly challenged the outdated practices prevalent at the time.'

Credit: C. Fishel


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Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 19 Votes: 42.11% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 24 Votes: 4.17% Annoying