Respected Burnley and Padiham firefighter Alan leaves a 'strong legacy' after 35 year career

For his hobbies include mountain biking, walking and he is also a skilled engineer.

"I have already looked into volunteering opportunities and helping out in the New Year," said Alan.

"You need a purpose in life and I am certainly not someone who can sit around all day."

And Alan is even considering returning as a driver at Padiham Fire Station as they are in short supply.

Alan joined the fire service at the age of 25 after deciding he wanted a change from his career in engineering.

He responded to a newspaper advertisement recruiting for firefighters and after completing his training his first posting was at Darwen.

He worked there for seven years before transferring to Burnley where he spent 23 years as a crew manager and also 17 years working the on-call duty system at Padiham.

And for the past five years he has been station manager at Padiham. Now almost 61 Alan decided it was time to step down.

He said: "The years have flown by. I have loved the job because it is so varied and has always been about helping people.

"No two days are the same and the camararderie between colleagues is an essential part of the job. You have to be able to get on with people."

Some of the more memorable incidents Alan attended include the 2015 Boxing day flooding, the massive waste plastic fire on Park Road and the Grove mill blaze on Partridge Hill Street, all in Padiham.

Memorable Burnley fires include the 25 pump Rectella BBQ factory blaze, the Woodfield Mill blaze in Trafalgar Street and a large fire at RDA Trading.

Covid restrictions put a dampener on a leaving party for Alan but he delivered a celebratory cake, baked by his daughter Louise, for his colleagues to enjoy at Padiham, who presented him with a commemorative firefighter axe in recognition of his service.

Congratulating Alan on his distinguished career Lancashire's Chief Fire Officer Justin Johnston said he leaves a 'strong legacy.'

Alan has been married to his wife Jennifer for 36 years. The couple met in Alan's hometown of Blackburn when Jennifer's parents moved from Padiham to take over the running of a pub there.

But Alan and Jennifer returned to Padiham where they brought up their two children, Louise (28) and 23-year-old Harry. Louise works for an animal pharmaceutical company and is also a volunteer with St John Ambulance.

Harry is a serving officer with Greater Manchester Police.