By Charlie Gall
Daily Record

ABERDEEN, Scotland — Fire chiefs sent a loyalty medal to a firefighter they'd sacked for being too fat.

Kevin Ogilvie, 46, was given the boot after 22 years on the job because bosses deemed him unfit for duty.

Now union leaders have accused fire chiefs of adding insult to injury by awarding their dumped colleague a badge ofhonour.

The silver medal was in recognition of Kevin's long service and good conduct.

Colleagues at Grampian Fire and Rescue have threatened a mass walkout over his dismissal.

Kevin, who was honoured by Aberdeen's Lord Provost for 20 years of service, was warned after he ballooned above 20 stones.

But despite his best efforts to shed the pounds, Kevin was shown the door, sparking fury in the fire brigade ranks.

Yesterday, local Fire Brigades' Union branch secretary Alan Paterson said publicity surrounding the case had caused Kevin further embarrassment.

He said: "The last piece of embarrassment he got was when they terminated his contract.

"Then a few weeks later he got another letter from the brigade about getting a loyalty award for over 20 years' service."

But assistant fire chief Pete Murray insisted it was an award made automatically.

He said: "An employee who has been in service for periods of 10, 20 or 30 years is invited to take up the offer of a badge.

"If you don't respond negatively to the letter, then badges are sent."

Kevin, who lives in an Aberdeen flat, is refusing to discuss the row pending possible union action.

Copyright 2008 Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail Ltd.