Fife butcher Jamie Syme delivered his baby daughter on the bathroom floor just weeks before being named top of his trade.
The 27-year-old, who works for Alex Mitchell Butchers in Glenrothes, was named Butcher of the Year at Scottish Meat Training’s skills awards in Perth.
But it was his midwifery skills that were needed on April 17, when his fiance Chelsea, 21, gave birth to little Grace at home.
“This was our first baby and my fiancée Chelsea and I didn’t really know what to expect,” he said.
“She was worn out as the baby was eight days late so went for a warm bath to ease the aches.
“She said she was a bit uncomfortable but there were no really bad labour pains. She was climbing out of the bath when she felt the baby move and I just had time to lay towels on the floor and call 999 before – two pushes and 20 seconds later – Grace arrived and started crying.”
Jamie said there was no drama during the birth and both mum and baby are doing well.
“We both thought to ourselves that it wasn’t the time to panic,” he said.
Having started at the Glenrothes shop as a weekend dishwasher aged just 13, Jamie was taken on as an apprentice and has never looked back.
“It’s the buzz when the shop’s really busy,” he said.
“It’s looking at people queuing out the door and the cabinets emptying really quickly.”
He added: “Becoming a father is something that can’t be topped but winning this title comes close.
“This is the biggest butcher title you can win in Scotland and it means everything to me. I’m absolutely delighted.”
