Wick-born police officer and colleague honoured in Pride of Scotland Awards
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A Wick-born police officer and one of his colleagues have been honoured for their heroic response after a car crashed into a cottage, setting the building ablaze and trapping its owner inside.
Constables David Fraser (42) and Lisa Macpherson (30) were named as winners in the emergency services category of the Pride of Scotland Awards which will be broadcast on TV next week.
PC Fraser's father, also David, of Port Dunbar, Wick, said he was "incredibly proud" of both officers.
The early-morning incident happened at Barvas, on the Isle of Lewis, in November 2019 when PCs Fraser and Macpherson rescued a woman from her home after it was hit by a car which then caught fire.
The two officers helped remove people from the Vauxhall Zafira as the vehicle was engulfed in flames. By now, the cottage was also ablaze.
PC Fraser forced open the locked door of the property, found 61-year-old Sylvia Walden in her bedroom, unaware of the fire, and led her to safety along with her dog.
Ms Walden, who was not injured, said at the time: “I was fast asleep and didn’t hear the car go into the house.
"I could hear shouting. I got up, opened the door and there was a police officer with a torch saying, 'Hello, hello, this is the police. You need to get out of the house.'"
It took three fire crews to put out the blaze.
PCs Fraser and Macpherson said in a joint statement: “We are very honoured to have received a Pride of Scotland Award for our actions. In these situations the most important concern is the preservation of life and that is why we acted in the way we did, as would any police officer.”
The Pride of Scotland ceremony took place last Wednesday at Hopetoun House, near Edinburgh, with guests from music, sport and TV among those celebrating the winners from various walks of life who had been nominated by the public. Categories included community hero, outstanding bravery, child of courage, young fundraiser of the year, young achiever and lifetime achievement.
Mr Fraser (69) was there with his daughter Nina Mackay (45) to see the two officers receive their emergency services award from ex-footballer Charlie Nicholas and Martel Maxwell, a co-presenter of the TV show Homes Under the Hammer.
Mr Fraser, a former lighthouse keeper and police officer, said: “Having been in the job myself, it's just one of these things where instinct kicks in. It's your job, you get on with it.
“I am incredibly proud of the two of them.”
Mr Fraser moved back to Wick in 2016 with his wife Isabell after a spell away. Isabell died of motor neurone disease last year, aged 67.
"David and Lisa had actually received a Police Scotland bravery award for their actions," Mr Fraser said. "Isabell had been aware that they'd been nominated for that but she never actually saw it being presented.”
PC Fraser was born in Wick's Henderson Memorial Nursing Home and is a former pupil of Lybster Primary School, Wick North Primary School and Inverness Royal Academy.
Mr Fraser's father, Donnie, was also a policeman, making PC Fraser the third generation to serve in the force.
- The Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards, in partnership with TSB, will be broadcast on STV on July 27 at 8pm.
