One of Tayside’s most dedicated retained firefighters has called time on a remarkable career spanning four decades.
Exactly 32 years to the day since his first training night at Forfar fire station, watch manager Alan Shepherd signed off after an estimated 9,000 call-outs during what was hailed as an “amazing commitment” to the fire service in the town.
Alan’s retained role has stretched across the incarnations of Tayside Fire Brigade, Tayside Fire and Rescue and, since April this year, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
The 52-year-old’s career path has taken him from firefighter to leading firefighter, sub-officer and temporary station manager to watch manager, serving at Forfar’s Academy Street station before its 1997 relocation to the current Strang Street facility.
With an average of 280 call-outs each year, Alan has experienced every kind of incident at all hours of the day and night his last shout a 4.50am alert on his final day to a fire alarm operating at a Forfar food factory.
Looking back over the many hundreds of incidents, one stands out for Alan as the biggest fire of his career when the town’s former Regal cinema was gutted in a spectacular 1987 high street blaze.
“That was a really big one and a huge test for all of the firefighters involved. I was a pump operator at that one and it was a busy job,” said Alan, a fire crew commander at Aberdeen International Airport where he has been based for the past 14 years.
“I remember another situation where we were dealing with a good going kitchen fire and using a cupboard as cover from the heat and flames.
“Once the fire was out we opened it and discovered it was an ammunitions cupboard, packed with bullets.”
Alan added: “The job has changed a great deal and we are now much more fire preventers than firefighters, which is a good thing.
“Another major has difference has been in dealing with road accidents. When I came in to the fire service there were no airbags and many people didn’t wear seatbelts so we had many more serious injuries, often with people being thrown from vehicles.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the fire service and I felt the time was right to bow out, but I know I am leaving the Forfar station in the very capable hands of watch manager Roy King and a really good crew of firefighters.”
Local Scottish Fire and Rescue Service senior officer Dave Stapley, who presented Alan with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of the sterling service, said: “To serve 32 years in one job is really quite significant and the importance of retained firefighters should not be underestimated in this local community and across Scotland.
“Forfar station has put in a lot of hard work and Alan is a key part of that,” he said.
“People in civilian life perhaps don’t appreciate the commitment retained firefighters give and it is a privilege to express the thanks of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to Alan,” he added.
Alan, who is married to Lesley and has three children, Laura, Ashley and Matthew, was also presented with an engraved decanter by his Forfar colleagues.