Day out at Scottish Fire Service College, Gullane.

On the 10th May 2007 a group of 18 REA members went along to the Scottish Fire Service College at Gullane for a day out.

We left from Cowcaddens in two SFR personnel carriers and enjoyed a good blether on the way to the College (or, as most members would know it) - the Scottish Fire Service Training School.

Although most members didn't know each other they were soon talking away and all had some mutual friends they had worked with - we may have about 3/4000 within SFR but you always know someone that someone else knows. It's a small world within our Fire Service Community.

On arrival we were met by Eck Bryson, a gentleman of a guy from Lothian & Borders, who is the Commandant in old money but who is now called the Head of Programmes. Eck had coffee and biscuits ready for us all and whilst we ate and drank Eck gave the members a run down of the new regime.There's no late passes any more - it's all self-discipline now.If anyone comes on the drill ground smelling of alcohol then they are sent back to their Brigade on report. A  far cry from the past eh? Eck told the members that there has not been one case of referral back to Brigade since he brought the policy in, so the proof is in the eating.

There is a huge new accommodation block where the trainees, as they are now called, have their own single room. There's no morning inspections any more, no more bed blocks etc.The new regime relies on the cleaners telling staff if a room is not being kept up to scratch then staff interview the trainee and update them of the expected standards.

There's no more writing everything down - all lectures are available as handouts -  so no more having to draw pumps, inside of 5X branches etc.The course is all Modular now too so that if someone has to leave because of injury or illness they do not get re-coursed. They only come back to finish the Modules they missed through injury or illness.

The College then laid on an excellent lunch which the members thoroughly enjoyed then we all went out to see the trainees on the drill ground. They were near the end of their course so they were doing "fire scenarios". As they got into their fire gear they all had a chance to talk to all our members and  within a few minutes they relaxed and enjoyed talking to our retired members about what it is like now and what it was like then. Talking to Eck weeks later he told me that the trainees got a lot out of that exchange and Eck was delighted that our members went through to give the trainees a different perspective.

Eck then laid on afternoon tea and cakes and a question and answer session ended with a vote of thanks to the College, Eck Bryson and Ricky Stroud who also accompanied us and helped out with the afternoon sessions.T o round off the day we all went in to Bissetts for a pint and a blether before setting off back to Cowcaddens and homeward thereon.

All the members really enjoyed the day out, enjoyed seeing the College again, enjoyed seeing Gullane again and enjoyed seeing each other. Although he is retiring in July Eck has extended an open invitation to us to return and repeat the visit because, as he says," the trainees and the College got as much out of the visit as the members did".

If you are interested in going on the next visit to Gullane please let Joe know and he will keep a list of interested members and arrange another visit later on in the year.

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Sam Campbell’s Farewell

By Joe Harkins

On a lovely sunny day in April a group of REA members congregated in the Ramada Hotel in Ingram Street, Glasgow (the old Ingram Hotel ) at 12.30 . Prior to this an email and letter had been sent out to every REA member informing them that ex-Central fire station stalwart Sam Campbell was leaving to go down south to Chippenham to stay with his niece Elizabeth. About 40 of our members turned up for a buffet lunch laid on by Elizabeth, who turned out to be as sunny and beautiful as the weather outside that day.

Elizabeth and her brother Campbell greeted all the guests with a smile, a handshake and a complimentary drink, as Sam sat at his table and warmly welcomed each and every one who arrived. All the old friends and comrades quickly settled down and went into overdrive as the hose and smoke-filled memories filled the room – along, of course, with the hilarious jokes and anecdotes which are so much a part of any meeting of old friends and colleagues. Friends like Charlie Stewart, Hughie Welsh, Bill MacDonald, Bill Cook, Bob Kelly, Norman Thompson, Les Ruthven, Willie Graham and Enoch Humphries turned up, and many more met each other, some seeing friends for the first time in over 40 years. Phone numbers and addresses were exchanged by some members to keep in touch.

The Ramada laid on an excellent buffet lunch which was enjoyed by all and quite a few members brought along their good ladies, such as Eugene O’Callaghan and Bob Smart and a few others, which all helped to give the event a more family feeling. A few short speeches were given to thank everyone for coming along and wish all the best to Sam in this new chapter in his life. Joe Smith gave the first speech followed by Bill Wilson then I was invited to say a few words before Elizabeth finished off the speeches by thanking all for making the day a memorable one for Sam.

Quite a few gifts were then presented to Sam by Jim Smith,Wallace Branch,   ANO  and Jimmy Rexter with framed prints of the old Glasgow stations, the old Central station photo and a book on old Central Glasgow togeterh with a lapel pin in the shape of a fire helmet,  being warmly appreciated by Sam. Although Sam is moving away it doesn’t mean he is losing touch. He will still receive the email messages, the magazines etc from the REA to keep him informed of all that is happening.

An excellent time was had by all, with the family being especially pleased at the high turnout  - another example of the REA fulfilling its main aim of bringing old friends and colleagues back together again for mutual enjoyment. As Jimmy Rexter said on the day  “It’s great to see so many old friends together in the one place…. And there’s not a coffin in sight !” Says it all really about the  REA.

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