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Picture: Eric Cormack. Image No.043462
MORE than three decades of service dedicated to saving lives drew to a close when Buckie fire station’s commander retired. The station’s training night last Monday saw firefighters past and present from Buckie and beyond gather to honour watch manager Dougie Annand, who has led the town’s team of retained firefighters for the last 20 years, having been in the service for a total of 32-and-a-half years. However, as he was to reveal to assembled guests, he nearly did not become a firefighter at all, the persistence of one of his predecessors paying off in the end. He told the Advertiser: “Dodie McKay had been at me for three years back when I was working for Cruickshank’s to join up but I kept putting it off. “One night he came up to the house with the forms – I looked at my wife then said, ‘OK, I’ll do it’. To be honest I wish I’d joined up years earlier.” A sense of community has very much been behind Mr Annand’s dedication to is role.
“I suppose my biggest satisfaction has been helping the community, being there for people when they’re in the greatest of need,” he continued. “I’ve also had the privilege of working with a great team here down the years, it’s been like having a second family.” With over three decades to reflect on, Mr Annand has seen many changes to the fire service. He said: “The biggest changes have been to the equipment we use and the appliances themselves. “We get far, far more protection from the clothing we wear now than when I started; back then we basically had a pair of wellies and yellow waterproof Over and out… watch manager Dougie Annand calls time on 32 years of service. Picture: Eric Cormack. Image No.043462
leggings. Sometimes you’d find the leggings had melted to the top of your boots with the heat. “Becoming a retained firefighter
is something I’d definitely recommend. Once you get past the initial training and courses it’s all about working as a team and enjoying each other’s company.” Mr Annand added he was now going to enjoy spending time with his grandchildren. Paying tribute to Mr Annand was the station’s new watch manager Colin Forbes. “It’s going to be hard to fill Dougie’s
boots but he’s left the station in great shape,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to the challenges ahead. “Recruitment is one of the immediate things we’re facing as we’ve got some people either leaving or who have left and need to be replaced.”