A “LEGEND” watch commander in the Wee County is still going strong after completing four decades of service.

Colin Hutcheson, watch commander at Tillicoultry Community Fire Station, marked 40 years of service to Clacks communities at the end of May.

The last four decades have just flown by for the faithful servant, who joined the service in 1984 and worked up the ladder to his current rank.

He has been responding to emergencies on an on-call basis ever since, protecting Clackmannanshire’s communities and supporting colleagues along the way.

Colin has spent most of his working life as a motor mechanic while being a firefighter in secondary employment and took up the role of support watch commander in the last few years.

In the role, he uses his extensive experience to support stations and management teams throughout Clacks, Stirling and Fife.

His father was one of the founding crew members at the Tillicoultry station and was there to see Colin receive gifts from colleagues, presented by crew commander Nigel Campbell.

Reflecting on his time in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Colin said: “I've absolutely no idea where the past 40 years have gone, they've just flown by.

“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has evolved and improved to be almost unrecognisable from when I joined as an 18-year-old, but the core ethos of helping people in need still remains the same.

“I thoroughly enjoy my role and the challenges it brings. Many thanks must go to all my colleagues past and present who have made my time so enjoyable and also to my family who support and enable me to fulfil this role."

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Family, friends as well as colleagues past and present were also on hand for the ceremony as Colin received gifts and the congratulations of station commander Russell Hammell.

The station commander said: “When reflecting on the last 40 years, it’s amazing the changes that have happened in the world, but Colin has been there all that time, providing care and support to his community when most needed.

“He’s too modest to say, but he is a legend.”