A long-serving fire chief who was also well-known for running a successful fruit grocers in Largs has sadly died, aged 80.

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 Largs Lifeboat team.

(Image: Stevens family)

Tommy joined Largs Fire Brigade in the early 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.

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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.

“He is Largs through and through.”

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Daughter Susan said: “Tommy suffered a stroke 18 years ago so he did really well after that, and was always cheerful, and liked a silly dad joke.

“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.

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“The amount of people he has helped over the years is unbelievable.”

During his career as a firefighter, Tommy received a long service medal from the Queen. He was involved in the Cathedral of the Isles blaze in the 1970s, which saw a number of firefighters injured, and the West Kilbride Primary School blaze in 1980.

In one more unusual incident Tommy had to rescue and resuscitate a pet budgerigar which went on to become a family pet.

A lovely golden wedding celebration took place with all the family in 2017 and with Tommy born on Hogmanay, his 80th birthday celebrations also took place in the family home in Haco Street.

(Image: Newsquest)

Mary remembered that both she and Tommy loved dancing at The Moorings in the swinging 1960s, and loved to dance to Chubby Checker’s ‘The Twist’. He also loved to play the harmonica and the accordion and performed in a band when he stayed in Kilbarchan.

Tommy was passionate about his family; wife Mary, daughters Alison, Susan and son David, he is survived by grandchildren and great grandchildren, the youngest of whom is one year old, Frazer.

Tommy's funeral will take place at St John's Church on Friday, June 21 at 12.30pm, and thereafter to the Brisbane Glen Cemetery, and then the Willowbank Hotel.