Ronnie calls time after remarkable service as retained firefighter

Watch manager Ronnie Black of Pitlochry Community Fire Station has decided it is time to “hang up the pager” after 36 years of serving as a retained firefighter.

Mr Black joined Tayside Fire Brigade in April 1978 as a firefighter before being promoted to leading firefighter in March 1992 and watch manager in June 2003.

He has attended many incidents in the Highland Perthshire area, including the Hercules air crash in 1993, the train derailment near Pitlochry railway station in 1983 and, more recently, the spectacular fire in the clock tower of Blair Atholl Castle in 2011.

Mr Black will continue to work with his primary employer, BT, but is looking forward to spending more of his free time with his family, travelling and enjoying his garden.

He admits, however, that he will miss his retained firefighting duties.

He officially retires on July 18 but at his last training night he was presented with his retirement certificate by group manager Rab Middlemiss in front of his Pitlochry and Dunkeld colleagues.