Anita Atkinson pictured now and during her time as a Control Room Operator in 1975.
To mark International Control Room Week (October 21 to 27) former Control Room Operator, Anita Atkinson, has shared memories of what the job was like almost 50 years ago.
Anita couldn’t believe her luck when she saw off competition from hundreds of other women to join our Control Room in 1975.
Aged just 18, Anita impressed the interviewing panel for the job of ‘Fire Control Operator’ with her answer about how she would react in an emergency.
Anita said: “I remember having my interview at County Hall in Durham and I was asked, ‘What would you do if you were out and saw an emergency but didn’t have two pence?’
“Because at that time phone boxes took two pences.
“I said that if it’s an emergency you don’t need two pence because 999 calls are free!
“Hundreds of women applied for the position but, somehow, I got it.”
Anita, from Weardale, went on to spend seven years working in Control and spent time on both Blue and White Watches.
She remembered how staff would write everything down by hand and said the public would make emergency calls from phone boxes.
Anita said she earned a high wage of £32 a week in the 70s to the amazement of her family and friends.
Anita, now 67, left the Service in 1982 shortly after having her daughter to focus on raising her family.
The mum-of-three went on to become a journalist and spent 22 years at her local paper, The Weardale Gazette.
However, her time in Control remains a great source of pride to this day.
“I absolutely loved every minute of it,” Anita said.
“I can’t think of a better job.
“Everyone in Control knew exactly what they were doing.
“They were really highly trained and everything ran like clockwork.
“It was a joy to be a part of Control and a big source of pride to work for the fire service.
“The Service is like a family as you know everyone and spend so much time together.”
