Leslie Leete

Leslie William Thomas Leete (18 December 1909 – 31 August 1976) was an English firefighter who became chief fire officer of the London Fire Brigade from 1962 to 1970 – the first LFB chief to have served in every rank within the Brigade.

Early career Leete joined the Auxiliary Fire Service in 1938. He started as a river fireman and later became a professional fireman in 1939 on the outbreak of war, and saw service during The Blitz in 1940. At this time, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) was still under the control of London County Council; it became part of the National Fire Service from 1941 to 1948, after which the LFB was re-established under the control of the County Council.

Leete was appointed deputy chief fire officer in 1953, serving under Sir Frederick Delve (1902–1995), chief officer from 1948 to 1962. Delve and Leete proposed control procedures that eventually became national policy, and also recommended the fitting of warning devices to breathing apparatus so that users were alerted when their oxygen supplies were running low. The following year, Leete oversaw the LFB's centenary celebrations, during which the Queen formally opened a new Brigade control room at Lambeth, which at the time was state of the art.

After the June 1969 Leinster Tower Hotel fire in Bayswater, where over 50 people were rescued from the hotel and without any fatalities, Leete issued the first special order, a Commendation, which described the fire as being "without parallel in the Brigade's history for the magnitude of the task... and the excellence of the firefighting work performed."

Honours Previously awarded the MBE in the 1952 New Year Honours, Leete was appointed a CBE in the 1965 New Year Honours. His post nominals also included the Q.F.S.M. (Queen's Fire Service Medal) and the O.St.J. (Order of St John).

After retirement on 10 May 1970, Leete moved to Luton. He died on 31 August 1976.