A WELL-KNOWN former fire-fighter from Haydon Bridge has died at the age of 80.

Allan Ord, best known by his nickname ‘Tashy’, died on December 15.

Allan was a retained fireman for 32 years, from 1959 until he was forced to retire in 1991.

He once famously responded to reports of a chimney fire in Haydon Bridge on his own, telling the operator he was “a crew of one!”

Allan had a number of jobs throughout a varied career, working as a miner, in a timber yard and driving lorries.

During his time working in the timber yard, Allan lost a finger in an accident, but it didn’t curb his busy lifestyle.

In his spare time, Allan dug graves in seven cemeteries and was a familiar face at Haydon Bridge cemetery, tending to the graves.

His sons, Kenneth and Edward, both helped their father, and said that Haydon Bridge cemetery was immaculate whenever Allan worked there.

Edward said: “He never stopped, even into his 70s, he was still pottering on. He did it for us; he was never a rich man, but he did it to support the family.”

Outside of work, Allan was fond of motorbikes and in his youth, spent many an afternoon riding round Northumberland.

It was on one such ride in 1960 that he met Rita, his future wife. Like all good love stories, Allan took Rita dancing – and that was that, as they say.

The couple remained keen dancers and often took off on the motorbike to dance halls, where Allan would cover the floor with talcum powder to improve the surface!

Sadly, Rita died last year, leaving behind their three children – Edward, Sylvia, and Kenneth.

Allan was also a keen fisherman, once landing a salmon in Haydon Bridge weighing in excess of 30lbs, which his sons maintain is still the heaviest salmon ever caught in the village.

Allan was cremated on December 28 at the West Road Crematorium in Newcastle.

The family would like to thank everyone who attended the service for their support and kind words.