Firefighters at Clydebank Community Fire Station are gearing up to have turkey in their uniform this year – if they get the chance – as they prepare to be on duty this festive season.
The Amber Watch has drawn the unlucky straw and will be at the station on December 25, however, they still plan to add some festive cheer to their shift.
Watch commander Gareth Strang, at Clydebank Fire Station (Image: Colin Mearns) Watch Commander Gareth Strang, 38, said: “I’ve worked Christmas for a few years, you don’t really think about it, it’s part of your rota and part of your role.
“The boys on the night shift are quite good, they will hang back and let us see our families in the morning. Everyone works together.
“At the end of the day, the watch is a family, you spend that much time together. So it’s two families on Christmas, the best of both worlds.
“I’ll go through and see my sisters and nephews a different day or at night and have a family dinner later on.”
He said: “Over the last 12 years, I’ve probably worked 10 Christmas Days. It’s just the way your shifts fall and it’s just your luck because it’s four days on, four off.
“It’s hard, I’ve got three boys, my youngest is still 12 and I’m here.
“I’ll see them in the morning before coming to work as they’ll be up a bit early. By the time I get home, I’ll be joining the Christmas party.”
She said: “I’ve been in just over five years. There’s never a rhyme or reason for where it’s busy or quiet, so we will just see what happens.
“It’s just another day at work I suppose. We will have our family Christmas on Boxing morning because we won’t be home till Christmas night.”
He said: “It’s not ideal to come in on Christmas Day but it’s nice to be with the guys, I’m sure we will try and have a laugh.
“We will try for a game of pool to keep us going.”
