80,000 rescues for AA patrolman

An AA patrolman who has rescued around 80,000 motorists during his career today marks 45 years with the organisation.

Jim Haggart, 60, is the AA’s longest serving patrolman in the UK, having joined its cadet scheme in his teens.

The grandfather from Glasgow estimates he has rescued 1,500-2,000 people a year since he began his career.

After more than four decades on the job he still enjoys helping people stranded everywhere from side streets to snowy motorway hard shoulders.

He said: “If I do on average maybe eight jobs a shift I get to help eight different people with their particular problem, which is nice. It’s nice to be able to get a car going and see the satisfaction on people’s faces when they drive away.

“When I started out I never ever thought I’d be 45 years by now. I get more of a kick watching people’s faces when they ask me how long I’ve been with the AA. To me it’s just a number.”