Councillor pays tribute to former Thurso firefighters' dedication and commitment
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Highland councillor Ron Gunn said it was a privilege to mark the dedication and commitment of four former Thurso firefighters who clocked up more than a century of service between them.
Allan Smith, Nicola Mcvean, Albert McIvor and David Bain received individually engraved slate plaques at a presentation in the Park Hotel on Saturday night.
The event was organised by firefighters, retired firefighters and family members. Some firefighters from the Wick station attended too.
Councillor Gunn, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness on Highland Council, said he was pleased to be invited along and to say a few words thanking them for their service to the community.
He pointed out that collectively the quartet had served for 106 years (Allan Smith 34 years, Nicola Mcvean 29 years, Albert McIvor 24 years and David Bain 19 years).
"It is an honour and a privilege to have been asked along to celebrate these officers' achievements," Councillor Gunn said.
"I am a huge fan of all our emergency services and our community is a better, safer place thanks to folk like these.
"When they're not putting fires out or cutting folk out of cars or doing their normal firefighting duties they work hard raising funds for different charities.
"When their pagers go, no matter what they are doing, they down tools and make their way to the fire station and most of the time have no idea what they will be facing.
"To me, the fire service is unique. Humans, or should I say most humans, have a natural fear of fire. When the average person is running away from a fire, these firefighters are heading towards it and won't hesitate to go in and rescue trapped persons.
"What more could a community ask for?"
He told the four: "On behalf of our community I would like to thank every one of you for your many years of dedication and commitment, and congratulations on reaching this milestone."
