Scottish Fire & Rescue: Larbert retained firefighter retires after 32 years service

For over 32 years, Graeme Mackie carried his pager ready to respond to any emergency incident along with his crewmates from Larbert Fire Station.

He combined this with his full-time day job – the first 12 years of his fire service career saw him as a nursing assistant at the Royal Scottish National Hospital in Larbert, and the last 21 years as a civil servant in a role where he helps look after others.

Over the three-plus decades, Graeme has worked for three different brigades, initially Central Scotland Fire Service, then Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service, and latterly the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The dad-of-two admits that he has loved every minute of his second career and would recommend it to anyone. He said: “I would encourage anyone thinking of become a retained firefighter to get involved. It’s a great thing to do. It certainly doesn’t seem like 32 years and I’ve loved every minute.”

Retained firefighters are expected to be available for eight hours service every week when they have to drop everything and attend emergency incidents.

Graeme, who spent his entire fire service career at the Larbert station, added: “It certainly has changed since I first joined. Then we would be called our around 700 times a year, but lately it has been between 500 and 550.

"There have been lots of improvements over the years, especially in training where there are many more courses for firefighters to attend to keep our skills up-to-date. When I started, BA (breathing apparatus) training you were basically put into a dark room, but now there are proper BA training chambers which are so much better at recreating the conditions you would find in a fire.

"I’m the first member of my family to join the fire service but it was something that I always wanted to do. I grew up in Larbert and still live here. All my time has been at Larbert Fire Station and I’ve always wanted to serve my community.

"However, I’m 53 now and decided to spend more time with my family so after joining on October 30, 1990 I retired on February 6, 2023. I think that I’ve done my bit but would definitely encourage others to get involved.”

At a ceremony in the Lorne Road fire station, Graeme was joined by wife Carolyn and children, Caitlyn, 22, and James, 18, when he received a certificate to mark his many years and gifts from his colleagues to mark his long service.

Congratulating Graeme on his career, Area Commander Kenny Barbour, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Local Senior Officer for Falkirk and West Lothian, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank Graeme for his service to both the SFRS and to his community. To dedicate more than three decades of your life to being there for others is hugely admirable and is a fine example of the selfless commitment shown by on call firefighters across Scotland.

"I would like to wish Graeme a healthy and happy retirement as he begins the next chapter of his life."