Tomiwa , what first attracted you to the Fire Service ?
“ I initially studied at Brunel University in Uxbridge , where I acquired my first degree in Sports Science and Business Studies . Having then worked at the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority , I found myself in positions with Cancer Research UK and the NHS . I also studied part-time at St Marys College obtaining a diploma in Health , Nutrition and Physical Activity .
I had played semi-professional , for Leyton FC and Carshalton FC and it was during them amateur football days which I made a lot of friends who worked for the fire service . Combined with my work at the procurement department , the fire lads highlighted the pros of being a firefighter and I found these tied in with my core values ..... fairness , integrity , and the physical aspects of the job . One of the fundamental attractions to me , are the rewards you get helping people and the impact you can make on their lives ”.
When did you join the Fire Service ?
“ I joined around four and a half years ago . I love the variety of the job and its ’ daily duties . Being based at Chelsea , which is considered an affluent area , we may not have as many turn outs for fires , however , there are many more aspects of the job we have to deal with . The biggest incident I have attended though , was at the fictional home of Hercule Poirot , on Clerkenwell Fire Station ground a couple of years ago . I was one of the first fire fighters on the scene and the whole place was up .”
Tomiwa has had an eye for fashion since a very young age , which eventually led him to not only a ‘ Foundation degree in Cordwainers Footwear Design ’ which he achieved at The London College of Fashion , but also a Master of Arts in ‘ Fashion Menswear Footwear ’. This he obtained in June this year , at the Royal College of Art .
When did you first become interested in fashion ?
“ When I was young , around 11 , my friend and I used our spare time after school and at weekends , to design trainers . It was a passion from an early age which rekindled when I reassessed my life later , having the memories of being very happy doing it , still with me . To this day , I still have a general love of trainers and as i consider myself a creative person , I looked into the subject in greater detail . When I was a child , Airmax 95s were massive , in fact the whole Airmax series and the likes of Reebok Pump , Fila and Adidas . Footwear now though has exploded , when I was young there was only a limited variety and the releases were few and far between . Now there is so much choice , with remakes , colour ups , new brands etc .”
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