1. What made you want to become a rep?
I was ‘encouraged’ to become a rep by an existing area/brigade official on my station who I had been questioning over things I didn’t feel were right within the service. He saw an opportunity for me to channel that frustration into something which would give me the ability to influence positive change. Becoming a branch rep was one of the most enjoyable, rewarding things I’ve done in my fire service career.
2. What is your proudest moment as a rep?
Seeing 700 firefighters standing outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, mobilising en masse, making their voices heard, campaigning for better pay for firefighters. Also, seeing the positive changes our ongoing DECON work is bringing as we work collaboratively with the fire service in Scotland.
3. Who are your ultimate heroes?
Tam McFarlane, with his impeccable dress sense and witty sense of humour!
4. Describe yourself in three words.
Persistent, passionate and relentless.
5. What was the last conversation you had that made you think differently about something?
With my wife. I thought I was right, she told me I was wrong! No, jokes aside, I often have discussions with management in my service over things where I go in with quite rigid, tunnel vision, and a specific end goal in mind. Whilst not always unhelpful, I often end up realising that there is a bigger picture to be considered and it’s maybe not as straight forward as I initially thought.
6. Which TV show could you not live without? (What’s your favourite band or musician?)
The Good Doctor. Having an autistic son, myself, I can really relate with the main character. As for music, I’m fairly eclectic so I like a bit of everything, especially Motown.
7. If you weren’t a firefighter, what would you be?
Unemployed! I’m not sure really, I was looking into the armed forces before becoming a firefighter, so maybe something there.
8. If you could travel back or forward in time, where and when would you travel to and why?
Sticking with fire service related stuff, and knowing what we now know about the real health risks of contaminants, I would go back 30 years and start trying to do the work we are now embarking on. Trying to encourage positive, cultural, and behavioural changes to keep the past generations as safe as we are trying to make the future generations of firefighters.
