SIGNIFICANT dates have been a bit of a feature for me over the last couple of weeks.

Friday, April 28, was Workers' International Memorial Day and I was pleased to be able to attend and speak at the wreath-laying ceremony that was held in Alloa at the memorial stone in front of Clackmannanshire Council's Kilncraigs HQ.

Workers' International Memorial Day is an opportunity for us all to pay our respects and remember all of those who have lost their lives in the workplace whether through injury or illness, and to recommit ourselves to fighting to keep workers safe.

The following week, on May 4, I took part in a debate in the Scottish Parliament marking Firefighters' Memorial Day, a special day to mark the particular sacrifice of those men and women in our Fire and Rescue service.

Firefighters are a special breed. They willingly and deliberately put themselves into situations that are incredibly dangerous in order to protect us, the public.

I took the opportunity to mention the firefighters – whole-time and retained – that protect the communities of my constituency from the fire stations in Alloa, Tillicoultry, Bridge of Allan and Dunblane.

I also highlighted the work of the Red Plaque Trust, a project funded by the Fire Brigade Union which seeks to recognise and remember the contribution and sacrifice of those firefighters killed in the line of duty by placing a distinctive plaque as near as possible to the location where they died.

One such plaque has been erected in memory of John Noble, watch manager at Alloa Fire Station, who died when the fire engine he was in crashed whilst responding to a smoke alarm that activated at a nearby primary school.

The call was later found to be a false alarm which highlights the sad fact that even a false alarm can result in the death of a firefighter and underlines the random nature of the threat to life that firefighters face on a daily basis as they go about their work of protecting the public.

Another important date approaching, far less poignant than International Workers' Day or Firefighter Memorial Day, but, nonetheless, highly emotionally charged in its own way, is cup final day – an incredibly important date in the Scottish football calendar. Particularly, of course for the fans of the teams involved, but for neutrals, too, it represents the culmination of the entire season.

Many, myself included, find themselves both frustrated and furious at the decision of the SFA to move the Scottish Cup Final from its traditional 3pm time slot to 5.30pm simply to avoid a clash with the English FA Cup Final.

It is not a new thing for these two matches to be held at the same time and I have lodged a motion in parliament pointing out that no meaningful consultation has taken place in relation to a change which will impact many supporters attending the match and calling on the SFA to put Scottish football fans first and reverse its decision.