The tale of a retired rural rescue service boss – who praised a health and social care team in his own time of need – has been made into a short film.

Alan Snowden, 90, from Biggar ran a service, along with his late wife Ida, which could be dispatched at short notice to tend to a dairy herd anywhere in Scotland if the farmer was unable, either through illness, injury or taking leave.

Northern Farmers’ Relief Service, which operated from 1954 until 1974 employing 30, served an illustrious client list including the Earl of Caithness, resident factor at the Queen’s Balmoral estate.

Mr Snowden has found himself in receipt of vital support when his own health took a turn for the worse in years – in the form of South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s Integrated Community Support Team (ICST).

His experience has been made into a short internet film, available to watch now at this link

Mr Snowden said: “Starring in the new film was great fun – it’s been another exciting chapter to tell my grandchildren about!

“During my working life, I always derived a real sense of satisfaction from helping farmers. Many cases were to cover holiday but a lot of the calls we dealt with got farmers out of a real bind.

“I remember once, for example, a farmer had broken his leg one night and was unable to work. We were on the scene the next morning to milk the cows.

He added: “You could see the sense of relief we brought to farmers and their families. We were perceived as the emergency service of the dairy world.

“It’s funny all these years later that I find myself as recipient of a service that’s extremely well-organised, efficient and brought me a great sense of relief and support when I’ve most needed it. I was delighted to appear in the film, alongside the staff who helped me, to convey that sentiment.”

The ICST has brought together nurses, physiotherapists and hospital discharge rehabilitation staff from NHS Lanarkshire with social workers, home care workers and occupational therapists from South Lanarkshire Council. Medical care is provided by the person’s own GP who links, when needed, with hospital consultants.

Harry Stevenson, chief officer, South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “As a partnership, we’re focussed on putting the person at the centre of everything we do and coordinating services around that individual. I think the new film on Alan Snowden demonstrates that approach well.”