1960's to ?                    Sub Officer George Morrison (there in 80's)
? to1991                        Sub Officer Sandy Morrison
1991 to ?                       Sub Officer Alun Owen
2019                               Watch Commander John Morrison

Notes

by Yvonne Davidson

Kinlochbervie's new fire station, the most recent in a series of upgradings by the Highland and Islands Fire Brigade, was officially opened on Saturday.
The guests, who included local MSP Jamie Stone, Fire Board convener Drew McFarlane Slack and firemaster Brian Murray, as well as retired and serving fire personnel from the Kinlochbervie unit, gathered at the new station at 2pm to witness the official opening ceremony, conducted by Mr Stone.
In addition to these official guests it has to be noted that, on a very moist afternoon, the entire midge population of North-West Sutherland also decided to attend the proceedings. Despite these uninvited guests, the ceremony went without a hitch.
The new fire station took over two years from conception to completion, with the building work by Morrisons taking around six months.
Master of ceremonies for the occasion was by divisional officer Alan Edwards who welcomed the guests and gave a brief history of KLB's fire unit from its humble beginnings to the present day.
Looking around the £500,000 facility it seemed a far cry from the original unit, formed in the 1960s by the late George Morrison. The equipment in those days consisted of "a stirrup pump, a length of hose and a bucket of sand".
The operation was them managed by Sandy Morrison until 1991 when the command shifted to Alun Owen. Mr Edwards also made the point, echoed in every speech that afternoon, that the brigade was very much a part of the local community.
Fire Board convener Drew McFarlane Slack said he was delighted with the new building. The board worked hard to achieve an equal fire service for all, no matter how remote the community, he said.
It was then over to Jamie Stone to do the honours in unveiling the plaque, but not before commenting on the presence of quite so many midges.
The new state of the art fire station was the culmination of a great deal of hard work, he said. He also pointed out that it was part of a rolling programme of upgrading work within the brigade. The next station to be completed will be at Lochinver, which is scheduled to open in November.
Mr Stone's wife, Flora, was then presented with a bouquet by the KLB's only female firefighter, Jasmine Campbell.
Officer in charge Alun Owen thanked Mr Stone and the Fire Board, and also paid tribute to the 12 retained members of the local team for their loyalty and commitment to the service. The ceremony then closed with the dedication and prayers being offered by the Rev John Mann of Kinlochbervie Church of Scotland.
A buffet and refreshments provided by the members of the service was then served in the lecture room and there was an opportunity for visitors to look around the fire station. No one was more impressed with the building than former service members who were present for the occasion.
Former officer in charge Sandy Morrison said of the building, which comprises a main appliance bay, breathing apparatus room, compressor store, muster room, male and female shower rooms, lecture room and kitchen: "It's marvellous, a great improvement since my day."
Tottie Morrison, widow of the KLB fire unit's founding member, said her husband would have been "very proud to see how far the operation has come". The afternoon's celebration continued with music being provided by pupils from Kinlochbervie schools.
This was followed by dancing long into the night with music by Bob Matheson and the boys from Rogart to end a proud day in the history of firefighting in Kinlochbervie.
<PHOTO> Highland and Islands Firemaster Brian Murray is joined by local firefighters at last week's official opening of Kinlochbervie's new fire station.
(The Northern Times, September 2, 2000. Page 5)

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