Meet the Training Team
Training Supervisor
Mark McKenzie | Macca
After leaving school I Joined the army in March 1985, serving 12 years in the Parachute Squadron of the Royal Engineers, specialising in heavy plant machinery. I deployed around the world on numerous exercises and operations.
In September 1999 I Joined Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, serving all around the Service area in various roles, specialising in Technical Rescue disciplines such as rope rescue and confined space rescue. After 21 years’ service I retired from the fire service. Whilst serving with the Fire Service, I was also serving with the Army Reserves, deploying to Afghanistan for a 7- month tour of duty in 2010.
After retiring from the Fire Service, I joined HFR Solutions where I have been able to transfer all my skills and knowledge from previous occupations to pass onto the people I train in various disciplines, hopefully making them safer at work and preventing incidents. As the training supervisor, I can advise, train, and mentor those I work with at HFR Solutions.
In my spare time I like to get about on my motorbike, in the UK and across Europe. I am a member at my local shooting club where I am training to become a shotgun instructor.
Instructor
John Armson | Johnny
Left school at 16, I completed an apprenticeship as a bricklayer for a local building firm. At 20, I joined the Royal Air Force as a Fireman and served in the Royal Air Force Fire and Rescue Service for 22 years, stationed all over the UK and internationally in Germany, Italy, Cyprus, and on four tours in the Falkland Islands, as well as one tour in Ascension Island and two Gulf Wars.
During my posting at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, I also worked for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service as an on-call firefighter at A10 Odiham. By my final posting at RAF Brize Norton, I had become a Breathing Apparatus instructor in 1992 and an instructor in trauma care in 1994. Additionally, I became an A1 assessor in Emergency Service Operations within the community in 2003 before leaving the RAF.
Afterward, I assisted in setting up Robin Hood Airport (Doncaster Sheffield) from October 2004 until May 2009. In 2005, I started the Heartstart Scheme, delivering training to the airport community and around North Lincolnshire, while also studying to become an Internal Verifier in Emergency Fire Service Operations within the Community. I joined Humberside Fire and Rescue Service as an on-call firefighter in 2005, leaving the airport as Deputy Chief Fire Officer. I then joined Humberside Fire and Rescue Service full-time within Operational Support and was seconded to assist in the setup of HFR Solutions in October 2011, where I managed the British Steel Emergency Services after winning the British Steel Contract.
In 2013, I managed Humberside Airport RFFS and the PX contract prior to retiring from HFRS in February 2022. I continued as an instructor with HFR Solutions, remaining on call for emergency responses throughout the Humberside region for the past ten years, attending patients in immediate threat and serious threat to life situations such as cardiac arrests and trauma.
Currently, I am still delivering Heartstart courses to communities around South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, teaching simple skills that save lives. With the assistance of HFR Solutions, we have increased the number of Automated External Defibrillators in communities and continue to work towards this goal.
I like Fast Cars and slow old Land Rovers, love gardening and wildlife meadows, love France and the food also, believe in our lord god and am married to the girl I fell in love with 39 years ago, have 3 great children and two grandchildren.
Instructor
Leigh Smith | Smudge
I joined the Army (infantry) as a boy solider aged 16 years. My first deployment was a two-year tour in Londonderry Northern Ireland in the late 80’s; spending my 18th Birthday patrolling the streets of the Bogside estate during which the local youths kindly introduced me to the art of dodging petrol bombs and acid bombs.
During my military career I went on to complete four more tours of Northern Ireland including Dungannon, South Armagh, West Belfast and again in Londonderry. My career also took me to the Falkland’s, Kenya, Oman, Canada and Germany before completing two years at the Infantry Training Regiment teaching new recruits. I finished my time in the Army serving in Kosovo. After leaving the Army, I joined Humberside Police in Dec 2000. During my time with Humberside Police, I was lucky enough to be trained in several specialist skills from Public Order to Method of Entry. Confined Space to Search Advisor and CBRN trainer.
In Dec 2014, I joined Counter Terrorism Policing at the National CBRN Centre as the CPD Sgt, rolling out tabletop exercises across the UK within Regions and local force areas for Multi Agency Commanders and Tac-Ads. I also took on the role of Ops Centre supervisor combining the two roles for a period of 18months. I have been honoured to represent the National Centre around the world, including working with the World Health Organisation in Brussels, the FBI & DEA in America and the Australian Police in Melbourne.
I retired from the Police in 2021 and continued with the international theme and completed several training contracts across the world from Indonesia to Egypt and from Malaysia to Uzbekistan. However, I have now changed my direction and decided to concentrate my efforts on more home-based activities. Using my wealth of experience and knowledge to providing training for HFR Solutions.
Instructor
Anthony Fill | Tony
I left school and joined the Royal Navy as a Mechanical Engineering Artificer in January 1983. I was the last of the “old school” Artificer branch and gained many qualifications in Mechanical Engineering mainly working on steam turbine ships, with some gas turbine ships. I was a trained fire fighter and trained at HMS Pheonix and HMS Raleigh. I swam and played water polo for the Navy and Combined services (Navy/Army/RAF) and was sent all over the world representing the tri-service forces.
In April 1986 I joined Humberside Police, where I served for 30 years. I worked in every part of the Humberside region in several specialist roles including Drug squad, CID, Interview teams, Major incident investigations for several murders, custody suites and finally in the force training school teaching every aspect of Policing. I was deployed all over the country as a riot trained officer and method of entry working the Newcastle riots, Bradford riots, London riots and Prison officers dispute. I had many specialisms including training and as a support officer for Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) and a Decontamination officer being deployed all over the country in particular for the G8 summit in Scotland. I was a United Kingdom Disaster Victim Identification (UKDVI) operative and was sent to several places around the world as a body recovery specialist, investigator and I have ran temporary mortuaries.
I retired from the Police in 2016 and returned as a civilian Police trainer for 5 years teaching new officers and staff entering the force in every aspect of Policing. I also was a part time officer safety trainer for most of service and full time as a civilian. I have been with HFR Solutions 4 years in May 2025 and teach all disciplines within the training section.
Instructor
Paul Cain | Cainy
I went in the forces after leaving school and served for five years. After leaving the forces I joined Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, serving across the service in a number of roles for twenty nine years. My final five years where in the central training section where I instructed in several disciplines training new recruits, through to experienced firefighters and officers.