A firefighter from the Black Isle was among the special guests invited to the Opening Ceremony of the new session of the Scottish Parliament after being recognised for his commitment to serving his community.
Watch Commander Richard Franklin attended the ceremony on Saturday 27 June as the guest of Highlands and Islands MSP Morven May MacCallum, who selected him as her Local Hero.
Each MSP was asked to nominate someone from their constituency or region who has made an extraordinary contribution to the lives of others or had a significant impact within their community.
Ms MacCallum chose Mr Franklin in recognition of his work as a retained firefighter and his efforts to help ensure his local Community Fire Station remains ready to respond when emergencies arise.
Retained firefighters play an important role across many Highland communities where local stations depend upon people balancing emergency call outs with their everyday jobs and family commitments.
Their willingness to serve means communities can continue to rely on a rapid response when fires, road accidents and other incidents occur.
Ms MacCallum said it had been a privilege to nominate Mr Franklin for the honour.
“It was a huge privilege to nominate Richard as Local Hero.
“As Watch Commander, he truly goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the Community Fire Station remains available and in prime position to respond to emergencies.
“Such levels of dedication to the community deserve to be recognised.
“I am pleased that Richard joined me at the Opening Ceremony.”
Mr Franklin said he viewed the invitation as recognition for retained firefighters across the country rather than an individual achievement.
“It’s been an incredible experience.
“I feel that I’m representing all retained firefighters and I feel they should all be recognised.”
For many communities across the Highlands and Islands, retained firefighters are an essential part of everyday life, providing a service that often depends upon local people giving up their time to protect neighbours, businesses and visitors alike.
The Scottish Parliament’s Local Hero initiative offers an opportunity to highlight those contributions and recognise the individuals whose efforts often take place quietly and without expectation of public recognition.
For Mr Franklin, the ceremony was a chance not only to represent his own station but also to shine a light on the dedication shown by retained crews serving communities across the Highlands and beyond.
