The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Fireman Gary Burton is leaving the service after 25 years service to the community.
Mr Burton (52) spent 18 years as an on call fireman at Long Sutton before spending the final seven years of his service with the fire and rescue service at Holbeach when he moved to the town.
A builder by trade, Mr Burton said he had enjoyed his time with the fire service and made ‘friends for life’ through volunteering to join the former retained service.
“It is a great way to serve the community you live in,” he said.
Among the strangest calls he attended was rescuing a pigeon which had got its leg caught in a tree.
Mr Burton said chimney and chip pan fires were more common when he started the job.
“I will miss it, but it can take up your life,” he said.
A special presentation was made to him last week after he officially retired at the end of July.
