THIRTY-seven years after he attended his first shout, North Tawton's station officer Harold 'Twiggy' Lake has retired from the fire service.

'Twiggy' as he is affectionately known, joined the fire crew at North Tawton in 1974.?After his medical and one week's training, on his first day he attended a hedge fire, followed that evening by a memorably large fire, when Down St Mary rectory burned down.

He remembered the assistance he was offered by former colleagues, over the years, and said he and the crew at North Tawton had seen some great changes, notably in the type of incidents.

'The good times have outweighed the bad times but there have been plenty of both,' said Twiggy. 'I remember the drought of '76 when I was sat against Wellington monument with the rest of the crew waiting to rush off to the next grass fire and on another occasion was at Ilfracombe when the Gandor Hotel burnt down.'

He said a tremendous blow to the station was the death of serving officer Mark Seaton. Good times, however, included the North Tawton cutting crew competing in the national finals in competitions in Plymouth, London and Manchester.

'We have changed light bulbs in Crediton Church while on stand-by there, we have been to many thatched roof fires and this is one area where knowledge has helped advance firefighting,' he said.

He said the crew had helped out at Devon County Show when the flooding almost put paid to the show and had dealt with some pretty horrific road accidents.

'One incident which I will always remember is trying to save the two children killed in the fire at North Tawton.

'I was just a few feet away from the door handle, trying to save the children from the bathroom, but the fire was burning through my jacket and I just couldn't go any further.'

Although the tragedy will remain with him, Twiggy also remembers when he and his crew transported a woman in labour to hospital in the fire engine through the snow a couple of years ago. She later gave birth to two girls.

Twiggy said that training for firefighters was now to a very high technical standard and he was pleased to say that retained officers were now treated as 'true professionals' like whole time officers.

He added: 'Officers from this station support the Incident Support crew which could end up anywhere in the country.

'This is why there is a lot of training now, not just in firefighting but chemical incidents, road accidents and much more.

'Being the station officer means not only are you the boss for the crew but you are a listening ear, often a marriage guidance counsellor and so much more.

'The orders that I shout have never been questioned. Maybe someone might say could we try this or that but the crew have never let me down.

'The whole community respects the fire station at North Tawton, not just in the town but also from Bow and Winkleigh and all the surrounding areas.'

Twiggy also said thanks should go to wives, girlfriends or partners of firefighters who forgo a lot because of their partners' service.

'Often they have to leave at difficult times, at mealtimes, during the middle of the night, when they should be doing something like babysitting or going on holiday. I am really pleased to say I am leaving the station in good hands'

Twiggy is moving to Bovey Tracey but will be continuing his business as a painter and decorator in the North Tawton area so will still be around.

'I have had a good working relationship with everyone I have met through the job, from colleagues to those we assist, to the press we talk to about the incidents afterwards.

'I wouldn't turn the clock back and can honestly say I have enjoyed my time with the fire service. I can now sit down and say I've done my bit.'

For a number of years, Twiggy organised the annual fete at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service headquarters at Exeter and organised fundraising events in aid of Exmouth Lifeboat at the North Tawton station.

Twiggy was presented with a certificate of thanks for his 'loyal and dedicated service' from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and also received a service shield.