A Fife community champion has had his “lifetime of work” destroyed in a devastating fire at his workshop.
Ronnie Collins lost power tools and other equipment he had collected over four decades in the electrical fire in Newmills this week.
The 57-year-old is well-known in west Fife for his support for numerous good causes – balancing his work as a heating engineer with making goods for local charities and organisations.
His work includes setting up the West Fife Woodlands initiative several years ago, which works to improve woodland paths and local beauty spots.
But he has lost all his equipment – including a collection of power tools built up over 40 years – after the blaze in the workshop next to his home, which took several hours to bring under control.
Ronnie’s family has now set up an online fundraiser so he can continue his work in supporting good causes.
Daughter Charlotte Downie told The Courier: “It’s utterly heartbreaking to see everything that my dad has spent a lifetime collecting lost in minutes.
“He’s spent most of his adult life building everything from children’s play equipment to memorial benches and just about everything else in between.
“He’s helped build the sensory garden at the Therapy Riding Centre at Shiresmill, which supports children with disabilities, as well as helping numerous other charities and organisations.
‘Lifetime of work disappeared in front of his eyes’
“Nothing can describe how difficult it was to see my dad watch a lifetime of work disappear in front of his eyes in minutes knowing there’s nothing he could do about it.
“It was equally as difficult watching him having to sift through the ashes to see if anything at all could be salvaged.
“That’s why we set up the donations page.
“We appreciate that with the cost of living crisis just now times are difficult and not everyone will be able to donate.
“However, if those that can dig deep to support my dad, that’d be a huge boost and will enable us to buy a few tools to get him back up and running.”
The fundraiser collected more than £2,000 within hours of being set up.
Charlotte says the generosity shown has been a huge comfort to the family.
She added: “We’re overwhelmed by the support already shown, especially give the difficult financial climate we are all facing.
“We’ve been inundated with messages of support and people wanting to donate – not just money, but tools and equipment to get my dad started again.
“We can’t begin to thank people enough.”
