Border Telegraph | News | Jimmy's ticket to retirement

Wednesday, 7th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 22nd March, 2006 10:14

Jimmy's ticket to retirement

By Border Telegraph Newsroom

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JIMMY Brawls has booked himself a nice, long break from working.

But it is not the first thing he has booked.

When Jimmy clocks off work tomorrow, he will bring the curtain down on a 33-year career as a traffic warden across the central Borders.

Jimmy has been a familiar face, and a familiar foe, for motorists in Galashiels, Melrose and Selkirk since he began patrolling the beat in 1975.

Setting off on his career in Jedburgh two years earlier, the job was not only new to Jimmy, but to the Borders public too.

He said: “I was one of the first traffic wardens in the Borders.

“I was nervous walking up and down with my uniform on at first. People were very sceptical at first with us coming into the Borders.

“But once they got to know us, they were fine. People started to recognise what I was there for.”

Jimmy knows the public perception of traffic wardens only too well. But he is keen to point out that his job involves more than just catching out the fare-dodgers.

He said: “Our job is to help people keep traffic moving.

“We also help the police as much as we can. I have to be calm and listen to people if they are explaining something.

“It isn’t just putting tickets on cars. A lot of people think we are just there to do that, but it is much more.

“My old inspector in Jedburgh used to say that if he could come down the street in his car, then I was doing my job well.”

But not everyone has been so understanding.

Jimmy said: “The only time that I had any trouble was when someone tried to run me over in his car in Island Street when I was giving him a ticket!

“People are angry if I book them. People have ripped their tickets up in front of me.

“But when you explain why they have got one, a lot of people are very understanding.”

Now that he has written his last ticket, Jimmy can look back at his distinguished career with satisfaction.

He said: “I have enjoyed meeting people and doing the Common Ridings. The Common Ridings are difficult to keep the traffic going and stopping it when you have to.

“I have just enjoyed helping the public as much as I can, although there are some days when I don’t enjoy the weather.

“I have enjoyed my job. People say ‘what a job that is’, but I have really enjoyed it over the years.”

Now Jimmy is looking ahead to life without his ticket book.

He said: “I want to have a break first, but I am thinking of doing voluntary work. I am not one for sitting about the house.

“It is going to be a big change for me. I would like to thank all the people in Galashiels, Melrose and Selkirk for speaking to me and helping me out.”

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