The first Scottish RDS conference was held at the Dunblane Hydro on the 13th June 2009. Jim Smith, RDS Advisor for Scottish Fire & Rescue Advisers Unit (SFRAU) set the scene and welcomed all to the conference.

The first speaker was Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing MSP. Mr Ewing was full of praise for the RDS in the UK, highlighting what a superb job we all do throughout the land. Mr Ewing is very keen to foster First (co) Responder in the RDS. He has asked the RFU to provide a case study of the very successful co-responding scheme in South Wales which recently reached its 10th anniversary. Mr Ewing finished his speech by saying the “Retained Duty System is the right way”

Next up was Kenny Simmons RDS Liaison Officer for Dunfries and Galloway. Kenny was introduced as being nervous but gave a very impassioned speech straight from the heart. Mr Simmons' speech was on the themes – A view from the front line – What it means to be a RDS Firefighter and mentioned the current and future challenges facing the RDS.

There followed speeches by Richard Durham, Convener of Highlands and Islands Fire Board and soon after by Brian Murray CFO Highlands and Islands and who is also CFOA Lead Officer on the RDS Working Group. Both were full of praise for the RDS from a Fire Authority perspective and from the operational aspect.

Our President Adrian Hughes was next on stage (he looks much better in his speaker biography than he does in real life) who talked about the RFU and how we support our members throughout the UK. Adrian’s speech was short and precise and stated only the facts.

Next in the firing line was Roddy Robertson from the FBU followed after lunch by Frank Duffield CFO Humberside who spoke about the future of the RDS in England and Wales.

Breakout sessions led by Brian Allaway CFO Lothian and Borders. All delegates were mixed and matched and discussions were held on

- Recruitment and retention
- Remuneration
- Training/competency
- Availability
- Transferability

The session was held for over an hour with some thought provoking discussions which raised several key points. Brian Allaway and Brian Murray gave a brief resume of the session highlighting several areas contention and good practice. It is hoped that some of these talks will be carried forward and help shape the future of the RDS in Scotland.

Brian Fraser Head (SFRAU) closed the formal part of the conference recapping on the days events, and the shaping of Scotland’s future RDS and the challenges and opportunities.

It was an excellent day all round with lots of old friends and new ones to be made. Every service in Scotland was well represented and it was heartening to see the event so well attended. Throughout the day there was the opportunity to view the new Firelink System vehicle and the shiny new DIM vehicle.

The RDS had a stand manned all day by Paul Taylor (Assistant National Officer - Scotland) and Jane Watson (Tayside) where numerous enquiries were made and leaflets were handed out. While the FBU stand focused on handing our lots of 'freebies' we preferred to concentrate on the tangible benefits we can offer our membership.

It is hoped that other events like this will be held in the future and we must congratulate Jim Smith and Scottish Resilience for hosting such a worthwhile event. It was heartening to see the RDS honoured with a conference that as so well attended from all over the UK.

I will close now with the words of Fergus Ewing, “The Retained Duty System is the right way’’

Jim Kilpatrick
National Officer - Scotland