bravest of the brave
SCOTLAND’S bravest and finest
were honoured at a star-studded
bash to celebrate 70 years of the
999 service.
A host of celebrities turned out
to applaud the dedication and
bravery of our emergency services
at TalentNation/The Scottish Sun’s Heroes of
999 awards.
At the first event of its kind in Scotland
members of the police, fire brigade,
coastguards, mountain rescue,
search and rescue dogs and the ambulance
service were singled out for
praise.
The 200-strong audience choked back
tears as moving footage of some of
Scotland’s worst disasters was shown
on a giant screen at the bash at Glasgow’s
Old Fruitmarket.
Taggart stars Blythe Duff and Alex
Norton, Justice Secretary Kenny
MacAskill and Secretary of State for
Scotland Jim Murphy all presented
awards.
Glasgow Council leader Stephen Purcell
and Mr Fix-It Jimmy Savile, in
tartan trackie and black string vest, also joined guests on the night.
The ceremony looked back at some of the country’s most tragic events, including the Piper Alpha disaster and
the Cheapside Street blaze.
There was also a special award for crew members of South Queensferry Coastguard team who received The Scottish Sun readers’ award. Station officer John Maitland said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to have picked up an award voted for by Sun readers and we feel it’s on behalf of all the coastguard.
“The team trains hard and it’s nice to be recognised, especially considering that a lot of people don’t know a lot about what we do.
“This is a great way to let people know what the coastguard really does. “There are people we’d like to thank who couldn’t be here tonight because they’re on call so we could come along
— Ron Hastings, Greg Paterson, Keith Telford and all operations room staff.”
Cheapside Street hero Jimmy Dunlop was given a standing ovation.
The 79-year-old was among the firefighters called out to the horrific blaze on March 28, 1960, which claimed the lives of 19 firemen and Salvage Corps personnel.
He accepted an award on behalf of the Fire and Rescue service from Celtic legend Billy McNeill — even though he’s a life-long Rangers fan.
Jimmy said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have picked up this award on behalf of the fire service.
“What happened at Cheapside Street is still very emotional and we lost a lot of good people that night.
“I went back in for my friend, but I didn’t see myself as being a hero — I was just doing my job.”
Blythe Duff, who plays DS Jackie Reid in Taggart, said she would have cleared her calendar to have made it to the bash on Thursday night.
She said: “When I got the call about it I said, make sure things get moved about so that I’m there.” But her co-star Alex Norton got a ribbing when it was revealed he’d had an on-screen winch with a DOG — and it got worse when he presented an award recognising the work of police dogs.
He shouted: “You kiss one dog and that’s it for the rest of your life.” Savile added: “I’ve been quite involved with the three nines over the year. Even with all the pressure and strain they’re under they still manage to have a good laugh with each other.”
Every one of them was a hero — and now the nation has said thanks.
