Fit for heroes: Sidey’s fitters save the day – March 2006

Just days after being recognised by the British Standards Institute as the nation’s only kite-marked fitting team, the lads from Sidey discovered two heroes in their midst following a dramatic rescue of a damsel in distress.

The Perth-based windows and doors manufacturer was celebrating receiving the BSI’s first such accolade in Scotland when two of its kite-marked installers came across a crisis of a truly urgent nature.

Well used to meeting the demands of customers as well as BSI’s high standards, Gavin Goss and Kevin Hutchison were on their way to install windows as part of a substantial contract with Perth and Kinross Council.

Before leaving their native Dundee on the morning of January 17th, however, Gavin and Kevin suffered a set-back to their working day which turned out to be the saving of disabled local woman, Elizabeth Innes.

A flat tyre on their Sidey van caused them to halt their journey on a residential street right outside Mrs Innes’s home. No sooner had they pulled over than an obviously distressed woman came running towards their van.

“She came over to us in a bit of a state,” explained Gavin, “she was really upset.”

When the two obliging lads went to her assistance the woman, June Rae, explained that her daughter, Mrs Innes who is disabled through multiple sclerosis, had suffered spasms in her legs, fallen to the floor and become stuck in her bathroom as a result.

Mrs Innes’s young son, Michael, had raised the alarm by phoning his granny when he first realised his mother was in trouble. Soon after she arrived at the scene, Mrs Rae realised that she could do nothing to help her daughter.

Unbeknown to her, however, right outside were two experts fully kitted out to do exactly the job in hand.
“They didn’t have to help, but they went out of their way,” said Mrs Rae of Gavin and Kevin who didn’t need to be asked twice to put their professional expertise to good use.

The skilled pair removed the bathroom door to the great relief of Mrs Innes whom they carried to her bed to recover.

“They both deserve a big thank-you for what they did, not only that, but they were so nice during the whole thing.”

In keeping with the stringent standards associated with the BSI kite-mark, Gavin and Kevin carefully replaced Mrs Innes’s bathroom door and tidied up before heading off to get on with their day job.

“It didn’t seem much to us at the time, but we’re pleased we could make a difference to Mrs Rae and her daughter.”

The two heroes of the day were congratulated by their company chairman, Sidey’s Michael Dobson. “The boys should be very proud of themselves. We are just delighted that they were on hand to offer their expertise when it was most needed.”

This expertise referred to by Mr Dobson has given Sidey the unique position in Scotland of holding a BSI kite-mark for survey and installation.

“The kite-mark clearly differentiates installers from their competitors,” explained Elaine Durno, BSI’s construction product manager.

“It really is the way forward,” added Mr Dobson. “It’s independent confirmation that Sidey’s whole package from manufacture to survey and installation is guaranteed to meet the highest UK standards.”