Retired firefighter Lud Ramsey championed equality and called out racist abuse throughout his career. Now as a Labour councillor and member of the Derbyshire fire authority his lifelong passion for justice remains undimmed. Helen Hague spoke to him
Lud Ramsey knows all too well what it feels like to be on the receiving end of racism. As a firefighter with the Royal Air Force in Hampshire, crews sent to attend royal flights got better pay and perks. In the four years he served there, Lud, the only black crew member, was never selected.
All went well when he joined the fire service in Basingstoke in 1988, the first black full-time firefighter in the county.
But when he moved to Andover, where there was very little ethnic diversity, things proved much tougher.
He was “about to throw in the towel” when life on station changed for the better.
He took part in the first ever Gladiators TV show – up against muscle-bound opponents – and won. He became a “minor celebrity” in Andover.
Lud got heavily involved in the union’s Black and Ethnic Minority Members (BEMM) section and became its national chair.
While Lud was chair of Hampshire FBU, a firefighter standing for election as a British National Party candidate put a link to the Hampshire FRS site in his electioneering material.
Lud got the link removed – and national recognition for helping Hampshire fire service give its race equality policy a much-needed overhaul.
The BNP candidate did not remain with the service.
In 2008, Lud got a job with Lothian and Borders in Scotland – as equalities watch manager. Four years later the Scottish TUC gave him an equality award for his work.
Now, as a Labour councillor in Chesterfield and member of the Derbyshire fire authority, he is as intent as ever on improving equality.
At his prompting, the fire authority is now partnering with a local independent equality and inclusion board, to help ensure the needs of all sections of the community are being met. The motion he submitted to the authority was passed unanimously.
Lud was proud to belong to a union that was “way ahead of the game” in setting up equality sections with representation at all levels of its structure. Many black members, himself included, benefitted hugely from the union’s pioneering stance.
He believes the fire service – and the union – “need more people of colour in positions of authority to attract a more diverse workforce”.
Lud loved his time as a firefighter and the part he was able to play in advancing equality. But, he adds: “There is certainly no room for complacency. There remains much to be done.”
