A LAUNCESTON firefighter has retired after 30 years’ service.

Roy Hooper started on August 1, 1987, and officially retired at midnight on July 31.

He was presented with a certificate and celebrated with colleagues.

He said the time has ‘flown by’, adding: “I have really enjoyed it, had some great colleagues and made some great friends along the way.”

Roy said he has covered shouts of every kind — from cat rescues to flooding, road traffics collisions to fires. The biggest fire he recalls attending was the 1992 fire of Sprys Garage in Launceston.

On looking forward to retirement, he said his eighth grandchild was on the way, adding: “I’m looking forward to spending more time with my long suffering wife as well!”