Fireman Tim Hangs up His Helmet

Ramsey fire station has said farewell to Tim Pressley after 15 years of service. 

He was presented with a mini helmet in a nice case and posed for a squad pic with his colleagues on his last day.

Reflecting on his career, Tim said his was a ‘relatively short career in comparison to many’ but that he has enjoyed the job and been ‘committed throughout that time’.

He said: ‘The more committed you are, the more you stand out, and the more experience you get. I have made many great friends in the fire service, and these friendships will last a lifetime.

‘I’ve been to so many incidents it’s hard to pick out the most memorable ones. Not all incidents have a happy outcome, but I can say we have always done our best and tried our hardest to help people in their most desperate time of need.

‘I think the one fire which stands out as the most dramatic for me would be on Glen Elfin Road in Ramsey. The call came in in the early hours of a Sunday morning as a “house fire, persons reported”. 

‘I was the driver and pump operator of the first appliance on scene, and upon arrival we were actually faced with two houses well alight, an oil tank, a shed, a fence and two cars all involved in fire. It was like a raging inferno.’

That rescue saw one of the houses have three people trapped in an upstairs bedroom, all who were rescued from their home.

He added: ‘I’m immensely proud to have been part of such an important service in my community and across the island. I think the thing I’ll miss most is working right in the thick of it when it really matters. I’ll miss working with such a close group of friends and the banter between us.

‘You are always learning in this job, but passing on your knowledge is also very important and I enjoy helping the newer crew members to develop their skills. I promise to continue socialising with my friends from the fire service so they haven’t got rid of me altogether.’