BRITAIN’S longest-serving operational firefighter - who has helped keep the county safe for more than five decades - has finally hung up his helmet.

Charles McGill MBE retired yesterday after 52 years and 1 days service at Hampshire Fire and Rescue.

The 68-year-old, formerly known as Chas, was the Hardley station commander, and also Port Liaison Officer in Eastleigh

He said: “I am very proud to serve.

“I will miss my job immensely but I will still see the people I work with and that will help get me through.

Daily Echo:

“This has been my boyhood dream since age 9.”

After his retirement, Chas is going to continue volunteering for the emergency services as a road safety advocate.

He added: “I have a unique flavour as to how the services work.

“I want to make Hampshire safer and make our roads safer.”

As a small boy, Chas was obsessed with toy fire trucks and often spent time outside his local station hoping to watch the crews as they were mobilised.

As soon as he was old enough, he joined the service in 1966 working across the country while completing an apprenticeship outside of the service to become an electrical engineer.

He was later active in setting up the station where he worked in 1977 and at the age of 32, he was promoted to Sub Officer- one of the youngest in the country at the time.

In 1970, Chas attended one of his biggest incidents when there was an explosion and fire aboard the Pacific Glory off the coast of the Isle of Wight.

The tanker was carrying 70,000 tonnes of crude oil when the Allegro, carrying 100,000 tonnes of crude oil, collided with it.

It took a total of 40 hours to battle the flames, in which 13 members of the Pacific Glory crew were killed.

Chas added: “More recently I was involved in a 50 pump fire at Swinley Forest in Berkshire.

“I worked with services from all over the country.”

In June 2016, Chas was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours to celebrate his 50 years of protecting the community.

Mr McGill commented: “Michael Batten and Scott Kerr are an inspiration to my career and are my insight to the other emergency services.

“They need recognition and so do all of the other emergency services.

“I need to be surrounded by positive people.”

Former Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Chief Officer Dave Curry said: “Chas has always contributed far more than most, and dedicated himself to protecting and serving his community in the best possible tradition of the fire service.

“He brings a high degree of commitment and professionalism that has been instrumental in protecting the population of Hampshire.”