The man in charge of kitting out firefighters across Tyne and Wear has hung up his boots after 43 years of serving his community.
Dave Metcalf, from Newcastle's West End, will say an emotional goodbye to Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) on Friday as he retires from the job he loves.
The 61-year-old joined the fire service back in 1979 and in that time has dished out an impressive 22,360 uniforms to firefighters and staff. The dad-of-two has also spent decades ensuring that every fire engine or vehicle is fitted with the kit needed to keep the community safe in his role as Technical Service Assistant, based at TWFRS’s Technical Service Centre (TSC) in Gateshead.
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“I really enjoy the job, I’ve worked with some good people and that’s why I’ve stuck around for so long - I would recommend a career in the fire service to anyone," Dave said.
“But I’m ready to retire, life is too short. I’ve worked my days and I want to enjoy some holiday time and spend time with my family and friends.”
As the longest serving member of TWFRS, Dave has met just about every single person to have joined the organisation since he started - including eight different Chief Fire Officers. But Dave says the biggest observation he has made is the advancements in the technology that keeps firefighters safe.
“It’s much safer now, the equipment is much more high-tech and there is so much more kit now than there was when I first started," he said.
Keeping fit has been a big part of Dave's life during his time with the fire service and until his retirement, he cycled the 12-mile round trip to work every day. He regularly plays five-a-side with his friends and has been a key member of TWFRS’s Sports and Welfare club throughout his service.
Dave added: “I think I’ll still join some sports groups when I retire, to help maintain my friendships and fitness with the folks that I have met. But no doubt my wife, Gail, will have a number of things for me to do, chores around the house and walking our two dogs.”
Thanking Dave for his decades of hard work TWFRS Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther said he will be missed greatly across the service. “I want to thank Dave for his years with us, he has been a staple of our fire service for over four decades," Chris said.
"He is a friendly face and will be missed greatly by everyone across the service but I know he has passed on his wealth of knowledge to the next generation. We’ve had an influx of new recruits in the last few years and I know they’ve been welcomed into the service with open arms by people like Dave and it makes me so proud to work here.”
TWFRS is currently recruiting firefighters, crew managers, and watch managers with experience to join the service as it continues its largest recruitment drive in recent years. Pre-registration for whole-time firefighters is also open ahead of a recruitment campaign expected to take place at the end of the year. Details for both can be found on TWFRS website.
