Emergency hero still a drving force after 40 years

The 62-year-old, who lives with his family in Middleton at the island’s West End, combines his on-call ambulance duties with his day job as a builder.

"When the phone goes, I drop everything and pull on my green suit and I’m away to wherever I’m needed," said Neil.

About 80 per cent of the work is patient transfers to the airport.

The tiny population booms with holidaymakers, especially surfers, in peak times, but Neil is always ready for action - whatever the season.

"There’s two of us who can drive the ambulance and we’re about to get a third, as well as more training. We all work as a team and have a great relationship with the GP.

"The job can have its lighter moments, as an island we’ve got plenty of characters. Over summer the population can increase three fold and we get surfers throughout the year," said Neil.

Tiree measures up to about 12 miles long and three miles at its wides point, although storms are biting away at it, added Neil. "We probably do about 1,000 miles a year in the ambulance," he said.

Neil’s former team leader John Barbour, now retired, said: "Working in a wee rural environment like Tiree for 40 years is quite an achievement in itself. It can be a difficult job in some situations because you are so connected with the community and Neil would know all the islanders he is dealing with. He has shown great commitment to the job over the years and to his community - and still is."

Neil said: "These 40 years have gone in a flash but I’m planning on staying on the road for as long as they’ll have me," he said.