A FIREFIGHTER has retired after spending more than half his life in the brigade.

Danny Gray, 55, had his final morning parade at Swindon Fire Station in Drove Road.

It marked the end of a 28-and-a-half year career which began in the days when many brigades, though not Wiltshire's, were still using old-style ladders on wooden wheels rather than turntables.

Danny, who has always worked in Swindon, is married to Shirley, also 55, and the couple have two daughters and three grandchildren.

He said: "I've seen a heck of a lot of changes over the years but I have been on the same watch during all these years.

"A lot of the kit has changed too. We've just been issued with new leather boots with rubber soles, but now I'll have to hand them back!"

He added: "I'll miss the blokes, my old comrades. But I'll be having a good holiday now.

"We were going to visit Australia, but I think that plan will change."

Danny was a railway worker until 1972, when redundancy forced him to consider another career.

Urged on by friend Paul Rowland, who is now himself about to retire from the brigade, he decided to join.

In the years since, his day-to-day experiences have brought feelings of everything from happiness to horror.

He said: "I have seen some horrible sights, such as road accident victims and the victims of fires. But when you hear good news such as somebody being rescued from a fire, it is very uplifting.

"You also have to have a good sense of humour, and you talk out your stress.

"I don't think anybody here has ever been to see a stress counsellor we've always worked things out on the watch."

Even though Danny has retired, he said he did not intend to forget his old friends, and planned to return to the fire station for visits.