International Women’s Day Inspirational Women
All these inspirational women were asked to answer the following questions.
- What is it like to be a woman working within BFC?
- What’s the most enjoyable part and what are the challenges?
- What are the benefits of working in BFC?
Here are their responses.
Keren Howard
- What is it like to be a woman working within BFC?
I work as Regional Manager for HIVE BFC and we are currently an all female organisation which I have found extremely enjoyable and novel experience. I like the way in which women will approach challenges collaboratively and from a range of perspectives. Although I have overall responsibility for HIVE in Cyprus, we are a close-knit team and speak truthfully and respectfully to one another to pursue a common goal. There isn’t any ego –HIVE officers are juggling children, partners who are away for long periods of time and commitments in the UK I have found working for HIVE to be one of the most satisfying choices in my work career. - What’s the most enjoyable part and what are the challenges?
I enjoy meeting people from all parts of our community BFC although small, is incredibly rich and diverse in terms of what we do and where we are! I feel very lucky to have such a great team — UK dependents in Cyprus often have such interesting backgrounds and my team are a particularly great example of that. I have so much expertise to hand; from change management and international sales to period costume design!
As for challenges; I think like everyone in BFC, I find trying to balance our community ambitions with lack of resources quite taxing. I am constantly putting together business cases for funding although we seem to have been lucky in that respect! (so far!) - What are the benefits of working in BFC?
Dependents often find it challenging to achieve the kind of satisfaction levels they have achieved in their UK based careers. I realise I have been very lucky to have a job which is both varied and challenging. I also have a great work/life balance which, as an English teacher is a new experience for me!
Francis Gillies
I was recruited for a new civilian GP post at RAF Akrotiri Medical Centre in 1997 to providecontinuity of care and 22yrs later….. I think you could say I have.
In that time I have worked for ten Senior Medical Officers, seen hundreds of staff pass through the medical centre and supervised more than 10 RAF doctors in training for general practice. As both a civilian and a female member of staff I have been in a minority for much of this time (though this balance is shifting) but nonetheless I have felt a valued member of the team in the medical centre, on Station and indeed throughout BFC.
My role as a GP providing primary care for Service personnel and their families is varied but enjoyable and I am even seeing some personnel back for their fourth tour! More of a challenge is provision of 24hr emergency and pre-hospital care not only for our Station population but also for civilians residing in the WSBA. My callouts have been as diverse as attending the unexpected delivery of a newborn baby to assessing a 90yr old with broken hip who had fallen out of bed and of course, road traffic accidents have not been infrequent over the years, sadly some with tragic consequences. In responding to such emergencies, it has been good to work closely with other emergency services such as the police, fire service and 84 Squadron.
This day to day work has been interspersed with my involvement in greater challenges, e.g. Akrotiri’sstaging post for Op Telic and Herric; being on duty when a migrant boat ran aground off the coast in 1998 and I was 8 months pregnant. Medical support to the evacuation of British personnel from Lebanon in 2006 and responding to the Harrier crash on the runway in 2009. The job has rarely been dull!
I have also been fortunate to have worked with staff at The Princess Mary Hospital (TPMH) and seen the excellent care provided to patients by dedicated staff until its closure in 2012. More personally, both my children were born there, supported by wonderful midwifery and medical staff.
Outside of work I have been involved in Brownies; St John Ambulance; Sunday school and more recently as a team leader for the Chaplaincy annual GO FISH children’s summer club. I also swam the Bay2Bay swim and ran the Gym2Gym run. These are all examples of the wide-ranging opportunities available to personnel in BFC should they wish to get involved.
So in summary, my initial 3yr tour but now permanent GP position in BFC, has afforded me a very varied medical role; given me the opportunity to meet many interesting and supportive colleagues who are now friends and never ceases to challenge with unexpected events.
Kirsty, Charlie and Hayley
Haley Laverty, Charlie Charles and Kirsty Walker are fire fighters.
What is it like to be a woman working within BFC?
As a close-knit community, we feel we are all equal working in BFC. The fire section is typically male dominated, however we are like a family where we look after each other and are all working towards the same goal. As a female on the fire section we fit in just like another member of the team due to the comradery and banter between us.
What’s the most enjoyable part and what are the challenges?
Within BFC, the most enjoyable part is meeting people from all different sections and families. Because everyone lives on camp as a community you tend to meet more people and there’s much more opportunity to be social.
Being away from family in the UK is sometimes challenging but we support each other and lift each other’s spirits if feeling down. Being away from home in some ways makes us closer as were all in the same situation.
What are the benefits of working in BFC?
Working as a firefighter in BFC means that we are screened from out of areas, this allows us to have a better work/family balance. Woking on camp gives us the opportunity to get more involved more with the community through fire safety campaigns with schools, libraries and big events such as family’s day and camo day.
Victoria Nicolls
I am currently a self-employed working mummy; I have two gorgeous girls, Anna and Nancy, aged 5 and 2 living in Episkopi Garrison. My husband is coming to the end of his 6-month deployment in Minhad, so juggling everything has not been an easy task, however these challenges I believe will only make you stronger.
When I had arrived in Cyprus June 2017 I had previously set up Art of Memories, my bespoke Artwork business that allows me to express my passion for drawing, doing commissions for people for all occasions. I have been very lucky and honoured to do several presentation drawings over the past 2 years for, years of service, leaving gifts and celebrating RAF 100. This was presented to the CBF. This is in addition to my other artwork ranging from landscapes, pet portraits, children’s drawings and venues. I have also set up Art of Gifts, which I had launched in the UK so I could still work around my two young girls. I believe as a working mum, self-employed, living within a military environment, you must adapt to your circumstances and surroundings. Art of Gifts has been very successful in Cyprus being supported by all camps. I have held many events in Aki, Dhekelia and here in Episkopi allowing me to create personalised bespoke frames using hand and footprints for families. After taking advantage of the beautiful surroundings and resources I was asked to create a leaving gift for a good friend, I used the beautiful pebbles to create the map of Cyprus and from this it has been extremely successful. I also had a fantastic opportunity to do a Valentines event in the Epi Hive allowing wives to create their own, it’s always lovely to do something for the community.
The great thing about both these businesses is that I can work from home and send frames back to the UK which keeps my options open for my next move.
The biggest achievement for me since being in Cyprus is the launch of Art of Fitness. I arrived here as a newly qualified fitness and spin instructor having never taken a class before and completely terrified and lacking that self-belief of being successful, especially on a camp where I didn’t know anyone. My love for fitness, outgoing personality and peoples support, taking taster sessions to build my confidence was the key to my success. Over the past year and a half, I have been over whelmed by the support allowing me now to teach 13 classes a week ranging from Mummy Fitness, Spin, TRX and Cardio and Tone using the Garrison Gym and the recently opened Well Being Centre along with another two inspirational ladies.
The military life and especially living on camp can be very lonely, I know that many have struggled including myself. My classes hopefully don’t just let people have the chance to work out and achieve their fitness goals but also gives them the opportunity to meet new people as well. Hearing how I have helped and encouraged other people, achieve goals, complete challenges that they never thought where possible, help them health wise and self-esteem makes me incredibly happy and means the world to me, simply priceless.
Military life and especially camp life can be difficult. Being hit with uncertainties and your partners work always dictating what the future holds. Since becoming a military wife I have changed my outlook on life to adapt to what life hits us with and look at it as an adventure and make the best of the what is offered at that time and place.
Leigh Gale
I’m Cpl Gale and I currently work as an RAFP Dog Handler at RAF Akrotiri. This is my first posting and I’ve now been here for almost 3 years.
Cyprus has been both an enjoyable and challenging place to work. The main challenge is the summer temperatures! As much as this is a challenge the weather is also a benefit. Being away from family is a challenge, however not many people get this opportunity so early on in their career so I’ve made the most of it whilst I’ve been here. Being a woman working in BFC is enjoyable. There are many opportunities here to take advantage of, local AT, learning about another culture, exploring the Island and the chance to pick up a new language.
Here are our inspirational women at work:
