Popular Andy hangs up his fireman’s hat
Rope rescue pioneer retires with lifetime of memories
A firefighter who helped spearhead the development of the East Kilbride-based rope rescue team could have easily been fighting crime instead of battling blazes.
Red Watch commander Andy Bannon was all set to head to the bright lights of London to start training with the Metropolitan Police but has now retired from the fire service after 30 years.
And after a varied and fulfilling career Andy, from Jackton, said he wouldn’t have changed a minute of it.
“I don’t think it’s actually sunk in yet,” the 50-year-old told the News. “It still feels like I am on holiday.
“It was surreal when I walked out East Kilbride fire station for the last time but I can honestly say I have had the best job in the world and loved every minute of it.”
However, it could have been so different had Andy pursued his chance to join the Met.
The dad-of-two went on: “I was all set to be a policeman.
“I was accepted into the Met and had the uniform and everything. I was ready to leave to go down to London.
“Then just before I was due to go I was accepted by the then Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and the rest is history.”
Andy began his career in Govan in 1988 and then moved to various stations in the city and Ayrshire, rising up the ranks before joining East Kilbride 12 years ago.
And it was on moving to the town that he got the chance to head up the rope rescue team that was in its infancy, and which his team led the way in developing.
He was a rope rescue team leader and instructor.
“We were the only team of its kind in Strathclyde and are now only one of three in Scotland,” Andy continued.
“East Kilbride were basically given the mantle of coming up with the procedures and took real ownership of rope rescue development.
“We were essentially given the ball and had to run with it and it is definitely something which myself and the rest of the guys are really proud.”
Andy said his career has seen many highs and lows.
“A lot of what I have seen will stay with me for the rest of my days – good and bad,” he said.
“There are the highs and lows but when you have intervened and prevented someone losing their life or their home there is no feeling like it.
“In the summer the rope rescue team were called to the Clyde Valley and after attempts by the other emergency services, it was us who managed to pull a woman from the river.
“Of course, there isn’t always a positive outcome and I was at the 1999 Glasgow Airport Cessna crash in which eight people lost their lives.”
There have been a few unusual rescues during Andy’s time.
“Rope rescue were called to an old stable block where a fairly sizeable horse had decided to climb up some rickety wooden stairs to the next level because it smelled food,” he said.
“But the stairs gave way and it was suspended, with its belly on beams, and legs hanging through.
“We had to use real heavy duty pulleys and ropes to get it down.”
But the community spirit and camaraderie at East Kilbride is what Andy will miss most.
“It is a real community station and the teamwork, not only on Red Watch, but of all the other watches is fantastic,” he added.
“East Kilbride is a station like no other and because a large percentage of the guys stay in the town there is real community involvement with a lot of what we do.
“I would like to thank everyone for all their support over the years.”
East Kilbride fire chief Eddie Kelly said: “I would like to thank Andy for his service and professionalism over the years and wish him all the best in his retirement.”
A lot of what I have seen will stay with me for the rest of my days...