AN office manager who has served the community for 35 and a half years as a retained firefighter hung up his kit for the final time last night.

55-year-old Mark Perrett from Devizes joined Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service over 35 years ago when he was 19-years old, following his dream since he was a boy.

He joined the crew at Devizes Fire Station as a retained firefighter in June 1983 and was promoted to leading fireman in 1992. In 2001 he served at Trowbridge Fire Station for 20 months before returned to Devizes in 2003 as a leading fireman. In 2005 he was promoted to sub officer and in 2010 became watch manager.

Yesterday, Mr Perrett, who is also an office manager for Royal Mail in Trowbridge took part in his final drill at the fire station before hanging up his helmet for the last time.

“I always wanted to do this, it is something you want to grow up to be”, he explained.

“It is full of excitement and there is camaraderie with guys as well.

“If anyone asks me what my best memory was, I just go back to the last job I went on.

“Everything is completely different, every job is not the same and that is the good thing.

“I shan’t miss the two or three o’clock calls in the morning , but I shall miss coming up on a Wednesday night for drills, I know no different.

“I don’t know what I am going to do with my time because I have done it since I was 19.

“I will miss the guys, I will miss the thrill and the excitement of it all.

“I am not the only one retiring, my wife Julie will be retiring as well. She is as much in this job as I am.

“Without my wife I wouldn’t be able to do my job. Everyone, without their partners, wouldn’t be able to do their job as it is such a demand on them.

"I run out and go away, I could be away up to four or five hours. They are as much a part of it as we are."

"It has been a real pleasure to be allowed to do this job."

Crew manager Rich Lake, said: "He is definitely going to be missed.

"The first thing we are going to miss is Mark's roll call on drill nights.

"We are going to lose this year just under 100 years worth of experience."

Devizes Fire Station are looking for new recruits. Anyone interested in joining is invited to attend drill nights on Wednesday's from, 6.15pm.

A charity car wash is also taking place at Devizes Fire Station on Saturday, 10am - 2pm.