Stepping down after 44 years of fire fighting

Eric Small joined West Linton Fire Brigade in 1972 when he was just 18 years old - following in the footsteps of his older brother Bob. 

Between the two brothers is over 80 years of devoted service to the local community - and dozens of lives saved.

And, it seems that the call-of-duty runs in the Small blood as their father, Robert Small Senior, also served with West Linton Fire Service during WW2.

Looking back on his time with the West Linton team, 62-year-old Eric has many fond memories.

He said: "I absolutely loved the job, it was my life for all those years and I will miss it very much, no doubt about it. It's an amazing career and once I started I never looked back.

"Working with the fire service is like having a big family and I've made so many friends over the years; and when you go elsewhere and mention you work with the fire brigade you'll always have connections or know someone from that town."

Throughout the decades, Eric has seen many friends and colleagues come and go, and has also seen many changes within the service itself.

"I remember before we had pagers, an old air raid siren used to go off on top of the fire-station and the whole village would hear it!" he laughed."And we'd all get up head down no matter where we were.

"But after 11pm, they installed this bell in your house that would go off and the whole house would shake. Honestly, the house next door or above you would be rattled as well."

Eric is a pillar of the West Linton community - someone who has never been far away from public duties, or the public eye. He served on the community council for over 20 years and acted as chairman for five. And back in 1992, he was elected Whipman.

He has resided in the Peeblesshire village all this life and married his wife Sandra 34 years ago in West Linton Church. The couple then went on to have a son, Darren, who is 30.

Sandra organised a surprise party for her husband to celebrate his retirement last weekend. The man of the moment told us: "I knew my wife wouldn't let it pass without organising something, but I didn't expect the party. I kept saying I didn't want a fuss but I was actually glad that she had done, it was lovely seeing old faces I hadn't seen for a while."

Whilst a retained fire-fighter Eric, who will be 63 in November, also ran his own roofing and plastering business and is looking forward to being able to focus solely on that part of his life for a while.

"Fire-fighting is a young man's game," Eric said. "And although I'm sad to retire, it's time for other people to come through."

However, he assured he has no illusions about a peaceful retired life as his two grandchildren, four-year-old Cole and Jaymie Lee who is eight, will certainly be keeping him busy now that he can be hired as a full time babysitter.