Inverness Airport firefighter Phil celebrates 40 years of service
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Four decades of helping ensure the safety of Inverness Airport travellers has been celebrated with the award of a special long service medal to fire service crew manager Phil Vardy.
Mr Vardy started his very first shift at the airport on Monday, October 26, 1981, and to mark his 40th work anniversary, he was presented with a medal by chief fire officer, James Miller and watch manager Stephen Ross.
A lot has changed during Mr Vardy’s time. The airport has grown significantly and now enjoys international travel connections, but for Phil the fundamentals remain the same.
He said: “I’ve loved working here from the very beginning, the day job hasn’t changed but no day could be called typical. The main role of the Airport Fire Services team is firefighting, but we get involved maintenance, winter operations and training.
“New technology over the years has brought its benefits. Cold winter nights are much easier to handle in some of the new vehicles we have, but I’m still learning when it comes to computers. The team is always so supportive and it’s a really good atmosphere to work in.”
James Millar, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited’s (HIAL), chief fire officer stated “It’s so encouraging to see a colleague celebrate their 40th anniversary with the organisation.
“Phil has a wealth of knowledge to share, that’s invaluable to us all, it’s always a great experience to work with him. Our people are at the heart of HIAL and it’s inspiring to see someone dedicate 40 years to their role.”
