For Hugh MacCormick, life can feel like it’s running at 100mph – when he’s not working in farming, he’s either overseas working as a military mechanic in the Reserves, working in his full-time role as Charge Hand Mechanic with Western Isles Council in Benbecula or answering his pager as an on-call firefighter.
But he wouldn’t change any of it.
Hugh has worked on-call for Scottish FRS for 20 years, alongside his full-time role in the council. It’s meant he’s always known about the work we do and the support we offer – but despite injuring his back a decade ago, he never thought to get in touch until more recently.
“With the Reserves, I’m often mobilised to go abroad – I’m going to Belize soon to repair a lot of the military vehicles,” says Hugh.
“People always ask how I juggle it all with the firefighting, but it’s just always been a part of my life – I just do it. I got mobilised in 2003 in Iraq and again in 2006 for another six months, but Scottish FRS has always been really supportive when I’ve done that.
“I was inspired to join the fire service because I wanted to give something to the community. There’s not a lot of people that are joining because they don’t have the time – well I don’t know where I’m finding the time! But I do.”
He adds: “My partner’s a police officer so sometimes my pager goes off, then it’s her phone, then my pager!
“I’ve got used to it now and enjoy the work. My pager has gone off at all times, even when I’ve been farming and I’ve had to leave the tractor at the side of the road!”
Hugh first injured his back in 2003, while abroad. It was a prolapsed disc and something he says now he wishes he’d got in touch with us about, to receive support with his recovery.
It got better at the time, but was never 100%, and just two years ago he says it flared up again.
“A couple of years ago I injured my back again, just going over a fence,” says Hugh. “It went on for weeks and weeks and it was a colleague that recommended I get in touch with the Charity.
“I was hesitant for a while, thinking there were people more important, but I ended up calling and being offered a place at Jubilee House.
“The very first morning, as it happened, I couldn’t even sit to eat the pain was just excruciating. I went to get assessed by one of the physiotherapists and she identified the problem straight away as a ripped muscle.
“From there, throughout the week the focused on giving me exercises and treatment for it and by the end of the week it was 100 times better.
“They asked me to go back again after for a second visit and touch wood I’ve never looked back. It’s 100 per cent now. I’d thoroughly recommend it to anybody.”
“It renewed my wish to raise money for the Charity, and inspired me to become a Station Rep.”
Hugh MacCormick
Hugh was joined by several other beneficiaries during his week’s stay, all of whom were also offered the chance to attend some mental wellbeing workshops. They’re something he says he’d never have considered would help him, but they proved really beneficial.
“Particularly since Covid, I see a lot of people struggling with their mental health – you don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors,” says Hugh.
“Even though I was receiving physio support, the workshops I attended were great and I’d recommend them to anyone. The one on relaxation was particularly good, within five minutes I was fast asleep snoring in the room!”
Hugh has since been inspired to volunteer as one of our Station Reps, as a thank you for the support he’s received, and to spread the word further to his colleagues about the importance of fundraising – in case they ever need a helping hand too.
He adds: “When I went to Jubilee House the second time, I took a load of bottles and things down to donate to a raffle – it renewed my wish to raise money for the Charity, and inspired me to become a Station Rep more recently.”
If you feel you’d benefit from our health and wellbeing support, we may be able to help you. Call our Support Line on 0800 389 8820, make an enquiry online or register for My Fire Fighters Charity now and visit the ‘Access Support’ tab.
You can also join our ‘Share Your Story’ Group in the app, by clicking on the ‘Groups’ tab, to chat to others who have received our support or enquire about sharing your own story.