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Tommy Stevens was chief sub officer at Largs Fire Brigade retained fire service for many years.

He covered some of the district’s biggest blazes over the decades, including the Cathedral of the Isles, and the former West Kilbride Primary School which was largely destroyed.

His full name was Thomas James Hannah Stevens, hence the grocer’s shop name TJ Stevens, and he was born in Largs in 1943 during the height of the Second World War, after his parents Albert and Agnes had decided to relocate to the Clyde Coast from Coatbridge.

He left school aged 14 and worked in Muirs the Grocers on Main Street and later joined Galbraith’s Stores and worked in various places across the west of Scotland. He also gained his master grocer qualification.

He moved to Kilbarchan Grocery and married his long-term sweetheart Mary Main, of Fairlie, whom he had first met in his school days in Largs.

They had their first daughter Susan and came back to stay in Crown Place in Largs in 1971 and ran a licensed grocers in Morris Street, where Tommy was proprietor from 1971 to 1982.

He opened and ran Nelson Street greengrocers from 1974 to 2001, which very much became the family business.

Another daughter Alison followed in 1972, and son David was born in 1982. He has carried on his father’s devotion to the emergency services and is now involved as a member of Lars Lifeb

Tommy joined Largs Fire Brigade in thearly 1970s and worked his way up to chief fire officer.

He had many other interests and he also worked behind the scenes at Barrfields Theatre for many years on all the big summer shows of the period in the 60s and 70s.

He taught Judo at Inverclyde Sports Centre and achieved the black belt, and held many roles in Largs Sub Aqua Club. A love of boats led to him being a member of the Largs Marina, and he was also a member of the Largs Masons.

One of his proudest memories and achievement was when he received a medal from the Queen and was invited to The Royal Garden Party.

Wife Mary said: “A lot of people have happy memories of him, from taking nursery schools around the fire station, to judo lessons at Inverclyde Sports Centre, and people are getting back to us, and providing us with some amazing memories.

“Dad was also very musical and enjoyed playing the keyboards and used to hang about with Ian Stoddart who set up the Sunday afternoon live traditional music sessions.”

Daughter Alison added: “He brought us up that there was no such word as ‘can’t’ and he always had the same attitude throughout his life.

“He always had a very positive attitude, and was very proud, and proud of other people’s achievements from family to friends whom he helped over the years.