H&F Fire Chief Awarded Winston Churchill Fellowship
Lucy Macleod gets funding to research responses to complex rescues
London Fire Brigade’s Borough Commander for Hammersmith and Fulham, Lucy Macleod. Picture: London Fire Brigade
August 3, 2026
London Fire Brigade’s Borough Commander for Hammersmith and Fulham, Lucy Macleod, has been awarded a prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship, opening the door to an international study that could reshape how UK firefighters respond to emergencies involving people with mobility issues due to obesity. Her research, titled No One Left Behind – National Operational Guidance on Bariatric Rescue in High Impact Events, will examine global best practice in planning, equipment, training and multi‑agency coordination during complex rescues.
For Ms Macleod, who grew up in west London and now leads the borough’s fire and rescue operations, the fellowship marks the next step in a career defined by specialist expertise and national leadership. She is currently the UK’s only female national tactical adviser, a fellow of both the Institute of Search and Technical Rescue and the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, and holds a Master’s degree in disaster and crisis management, with a thesis focused on bariatric rescue.
Her aim is now to develop recommendations that will strengthen National Operational Guidance and ensure firefighters across the UK are equipped to carry out safe, dignified and effective rescues—particularly during major incidents where bariatric patients face heightened vulnerability.
“I’m incredibly honoured to have been awarded a Churchill Fellowship,” she said. “It provides a unique opportunity to learn from leading experts around the world, and bring that knowledge back home to improve how we protect some of the most vulnerable people in our communities right here in London.”
She added that the fellowship responds directly to changes she has witnessed on the frontline. “I applied because I have seen first-hand how our communities are changing – we as a fire service need to evolve with them. During major incidents, evacuating and rescuing bariatric patients present significant operational, clinical and ethical challenges, yet there is currently limited national guidance in this area.”
Her research will take her to countries including Germany, Japan, Sweden and the United States, where she will meet specialists developing new approaches to bariatric rescue. “I want to understand how other countries… are addressing this challenge so we can learn from their expertise. This fellowship gives me a unique opportunity to do that.”
Last November she was named Most Influential Woman in Fire at the Excellence in Fire & Emergency Awards. Away from operational duties, she has also published a series of children’s books featuring her dog Blue, aimed at inspiring young readers to consider careers in the fire service.
She is one of 109 new Churchill Fellows announced for 2026, selected from across the UK for their commitment to learning from global innovation and applying it to public benefit at home. This year’s cohort will explore subjects ranging from climate‑friendly school canteens and dementia care in rural communities to tackling social media harm.
Julia Weston, Chief Executive of the Churchill Fellowship, said the new Fellows embody the value of international learning at a time of rapid change. “In a world where looking outwards has never mattered more, there is something genuinely hopeful about people choosing to seek out new ideas, build connections across borders, and use that knowledge to create positive change.”
She added: “Each of them shows the power of curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn from others. We’re all looking forward to following their journeys and seeing the difference they make across the UK.”
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