Dad Jim bows out in a blaze of glory
A long-serving firefighter is urging others to follow in his footsteps as he hangs up his helmet and pager for the last time.
Watch Commander Jim Love served the communities of Larkhall and Troon for a combined 35 years, starting life as a retained firefighter in May 1985.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) retained firefighters respond to emergencies via an on-call pager system and balance the role with primary employment and family commitments.
Jim stepped down from retained life last week. The dad-of-three plans to take a short recess before picking up where he left off - helping others.
He said:“I’ll take a wee break now and then think about what I can do next - I still want to help and try to make a difference.
“My dad did a lot of charity work for his local community and I think that gave me an insight and the passion to want to give back.”
With retained recruitment proving difficult across Scotland, Jim is keen for others to grasp the same opportunities.
For Jim, being there for his friends, family and neighbours is hugely rewarding.
He said:“When the pager goes it’s an adrenaline rush - and that never leaves. “When you respond it can be to someone you know. I’ve had a lot of heartaches because of this. But you want to help everyone and ensure they are safe.
“It’s not just about going to fires, it can be about noticing something and trying to change things to make it better for the community.When people recognise the work you do by bringing cakes to the station or just saying thanks, you can’t buy that - it makes you want to succeed.”
Area Commander Ian McMeekin is the SFRS local senior officer for East, North and South Ayrshire.
He said:“I’d like to thank him for his outstanding service.”