Last Call for Colne Firefighter

On Sunday, March 31st, Colne firefighter Richard Taylor, the Watch Manager at Colne Fire Station, bid farewell to his colleagues with a celebration at the station. Among the tokens of appreciation presented to him was a traditional retirement gift – a firefighter’s axe.

Richard’s journey into the fire service began in 1984, spurred by a chance encounter with a fellow firefighter. “I was 21 when I joined up,” he recalls. “I was just finishing my engineering apprenticeship, and I kept seeing one of my colleagues dashing out of work with what looked like a brick strapped to his hip.” This ‘brick’ was a pager designed to alert on-call firefighters. “I thought the job looked good because he got out of work for a bit!” Richard laughs.

Reflecting on the training he underwent in the 1980s, Richard likened it to military boot camp. “It was like the army! They used to shout and bawl at you. I slept on the floor because I couldn’t make up my bed with no creases each morning. Once, I had one hair in my sink and got an absolute roasting!”

“Where else do you get to fly around in a red machine with lights on?’”

Richard’s dedication to his role as a firefighter was unwavering for forty years. He often credits his wife, Jackie, for her constant support. “She’s always been there, understanding the demands of the job. It’s tough always being on call as you never know when you’ll be needed.”

Despite the challenges, Richard found fulfilment in his work, often remarking on the unique thrill of responding to emergencies. “It’s a great job. I always say to the lads—’ Where else do you get to fly around in a red machine with lights on?’” His passion for the job was evident, and it even inspired his son, Christopher, to follow in his footsteps and become a firefighter at Colne Fire Station.

Yet, working alongside family had its humorous moments, as Richard recalls. “We needed to get in some flats, and I told Christopher to get the door ram; he swung it, and half the bricks came off. I said, ‘We only need to go through the door, son,’” he laughs.

One of the most memorable events in Richard’s career was the Winter Hill fire in 2018, where he worked gruelling 22-hour shifts to contain the blaze. “We were there for 14 days and 14 hours.”

After four decades of dedicated service, Richard has left a lasting legacy. He has passed the baton to his colleague Ian McGee and is now looking forward to retirement. “I’ve never had a beard in 40 years! As a firefighter, I’ve always had to be clean-shaven. I just want to see what I look like with one!”

For those inspired by Richard’s dedication, Colne Fire Service is always looking for dedicated firefighters. Interested individuals can visit the station on Craddock Road on Monday nights to learn more about the process and requirements. More information can also be found here.

ColneLife May/June 24