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Gary Phillips, from Worcester, started as a firefighter in 1984, rising through every rank to Senior Divisional Officer. He became Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Suffolk in 2005 and Deputy Chief Fire Officer in Warwickshire in 2010, completing all the major fire service development courses along the way. He retired in 2016, but has continued to find ways to contribute to his community.
Gary was drawn to the fire service by the chance to make a practical difference. “I was aware of the opportunities that being a firefighter could bring and wanted to work in a career that gave me the opportunity to help others and develop myself,” he explained.
Across three different fire and rescue services, what kept him committed was the way colleagues pulled together, no matter the circumstances. “No matter what the circumstances were, how the service changed or whatever difficulties or challenges we all faced, everyone always pulled together and responded without hesitation to help the community.” As a senior officer, he also enjoyed supporting colleagues directly and helping them find the direction they needed to succeed.
Over the course of his leadership roles, Gary learned that being effective wasn’t just about decisions from the top. “Gaining experience and learning through feedback and personal reflection is so important, for everyone no matter what level you are. Listening and learning from those around you is also vital,” he said. Being visible to colleagues, showing respect, and building trust became guiding principles that he carried into his current role as a family magistrate.
Volunteering in the magistracy gave Gary a way to continue contributing, this time focusing on families and children. The shift from fire service to courtrooms felt surprisingly natural. “You work with two other volunteer magistrates in court and collectively discuss before making a decision which suits me perfectly as I’m used to working in a ‘team’ environment,” he explained. It also allows him to both share his experience and learn from others, gaining insight from volunteers with different backgrounds and perspectives.
He described how the role has broadened his view on fairness and decision-making. In the fire service, most colleagues shared similar career experiences, but in the magistracy he encounters a much wider range of perspectives. “It’s refreshing to listen and learn from others who have different perspectives. I have found that magistrates are driven by doing the right thing. Fairness and respecting people’s rights are at the heart of what a magistrate does,” he said.
Gary stressed that many people underestimate the role of family magistrates, who handle disputes affecting children and families, deal with custody or domestic abuse cases and help separated parents arrange care and enforce child maintenance orders. For him, the role draws on many of the same skills he relied on in the fire service: listening, teamwork, and careful decision-making. “The fire service is all about serving the community and so is being a magistrate. People will get the chance to develop. The role develops listening, decision-making and teamwork skills, which are all qualities that help you not only in work, but in your personal life too,” he said.
“Simply go for it! The benefits are enormous, and you can offer so much to others. The skills and experience gained during a career in emergency services is transferable for a role as a magistrate. Working and helping the community is at the heart of working in emergency services, and being a magistrate is another way of helping the local community too.”
Gary Phillips.
Family court work can be emotionally demanding, but Gary draws on his previous experience to manage it. “It’s much like the fire service experience of trying to help families in difficult circumstances and seeking to do the right thing. Being a family magistrate is no different other than that it’s voluntary,” he said. With the support of his wife, he balances volunteering with family life, including time with his grandson.
He believes former emergency responders bring a particular perspective to the magistracy. “Those retired or even still working in emergency services have the perfect experience to be magistrates. The professionalism they display, the drive to help others, the trust and integrity they have developed are a perfect set of skills to apply to the magistrate role,” he said. For Gary, the work is rewarding and provides a way to continue contributing to the community well beyond retirement.
For more information about the role of a magistrate and to apply, visit: Magistrates Recruitment – Volunteer as a magistrate.
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