Crew Manager Alan Nixon.
He’s a former PE teacher who swapped his tracksuit for fire kit more than 20 years ago - and never looked back.
Alan Nixon, 50, knew that he wanted a job where he could be physically active, so he initially embarked on a career as a PE teacher for secondary school, A Level and BTEC Sports Science students.
But, in October 1999, Alan decided to become a firefighter after being inspired by friends in the fire service.
"I loved the sound of the job and the variety of work involved," Alan said.
During his 26-year career with CDDFRS has been a firefighter as Darlington, a Crew Manager at Bishop Auckland and Darlington and a Watch Manager at High Handenhold.
He has recently been a temporary Watch Manager in Business Fire Safety where he was responsible for carrying out high risk fire safety inspections across the county.
Alan has now returned to his Crew Manager role at Darlington Fire Station on Green Watch.
The dad-of-two from Middleton One Row, near Darlington, said: “I love the people I work with and the camaraderie between watch and team members.
“I love the fact that I do an active job in the community with plenty of variety.”
Alan is a keen cyclist and has represented the Service and Great Britain in mountain biking, where he has won several national championships, and a gold medal in The World Firefighter Games.
In his spare time, Alan enjoys travelling around the UK and Europe with his wife and two children in their motorhome.
“I always have a couple of bikes on the back ready to hit the trails,” Alan said.
“If there’s a mountain nearby then we’re climbing it!
“I’m also busy learning French and German and always look forward to lots of travelling and exploring in the future.”
