Two events are seared into the memory of firefighter Eric Wilson, who has retired after nearly three decades in the West Yorkshire brigade.

Looking back on a career spanning 26 years, Mr Wilson recalls the death of firefighting colleague and friend Jeff Naylor, who died of burns in Pinderfield's Hospital, Wakefield, in 1983, after attempting to rescue a child from a burning house in Ingrow, Keighley.

And he remembers the nine-week national strike which stretched over the Christmas and New Year period of 1977/78.

"Jeff was a friend and colleague. His death was very upsetting but also significant because it led to improvements in firefighters' personal safety clothing," said Mr Wilson, who finished his career at Shipley as a sub officer yesterday.

Mr Naylor, 31, received horrific burns in the blaze which claimed the lives of two children. Three children survived but Mr Naylor died 11 weeks later.

The national fire service strike began when Mr Wilson, of Shann Lane, Keighley, had been in the brigade about a year.

"The strike happened as I was still serving as a probationary firemen. So I had just started in the job and I had to go on strike. It was a very worrying time. I had two young children and my wife had also just changed her career," he said.

He had given up a job in engineering and taken a £10 a week cut in wages from £57 to £47 to join the service.

"We couldn't have survived the strike without the great support of the public, family and friends who saw us through the nine weeks," he said.

During his career, Mr Wilson, who celebrates his 55th birthday on Friday, was awarded a letter of commendation from the West Yorkshire fire chief and West Yorkshire Chief Constable ,and a Good Citizen award for helping to disarm an armed man who had stabbed two people in Halifax.

He also holds a Chief Fire Officer commendation for another rescue, from water in 1993. Mr Wilson is also the co-author of a book, The History of Keighley Fire Service, which was published in 1986 while he was serving in Keighley.

The proceeds went to the Fire Service Benevolent Fund.

Now his firefighting days are over, he plans to concentrate on honing his wine-tasting skills. He also wants to spend more time hunting out vinyl records by his rock idol, Roy Orbison, and he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Irene and three grandchildren.