A fire chief PA from Falkirk has spoken openly about her experience of "horrific racial abuse" growing up, as well as modern day racism.
Charmaine Jones, known as 'Char', opened up about her experience of growing up in Grangemouth.
One of five children from a “very happy and very loving” home, her dad Matt was a paramedic her mum Audrey, a full-time mum.
However, she explained: “We didn’t realise we were the only multi-racial family at the time but we stood out like a sore thumb.
"We were all picked on for the colour of our skin. From the N-word to the ‘P***’ word.
"All those really, terrible, horrible names. I was called ‘P**’ at primary school and told that I was dirty."
Charmaine, Executive PA for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's Director of People and Organisation Development, said that things got so bad that she was even punched in the face by a racist boy.
She said: “"He broke my glasses and chipped a bone in my nose.
“He had called me ‘P***’. The thing is, I wasn’t Pakistani. My heritage is Indian and I am Scottish.
"It was clearly an ignorance with his parents because kids are not brought up to be racist."
As a teenager, Charmaine went on to achieve sporting triumph in athletics, training six nights a week with the Falkirk Victoria Harriers - and even training with the Scotland squad as a reserve.
Her father was a coach and encouraged her into the sport aged eight.
Char noted: “I just loved it and it was a comfortable environment.
“There was the odd time you would hear someone say, ‘you can beat the P***’.
"I would tell my dad and he would say, ‘you run … you run harder and you run faster - and you beat them’."
The 47-year-old says racism still exists and as a result she also takes step to protect herself such as avoiding late night public transport.
Char said: “I feel vulnerable sometimes. If I have a night out in the city, then I ensure I get on the earlier train.
"It isn’t because I am a single female but the colour of my skin. I want to avoid that bracket of people who could cause hassle.”
She was once even warned to prepare for a backlash over an Indian strain of Covid-19.
Char said: “It is a horrible world out there. No matter what, you know you will be judged by the colour of your skin.”
She continued: “There is still racism in the world. It does exist – one hundred per cent.
"You can feel it; sense it in the pit of you belly that someone doesn’t like you because of the colour of your skin.
“People need educated. I am sorry to say that I honestly don’t know the answer.”
Liz Barnes said: “Char is a delight to work with and I don’t know many people who have such a positive, fun and friendly outlook on life.
“I have heard her discuss some of the situations in which she still finds herself and this includes abuse on trains as well as inadvertent comments by well-meaning people which can be hurtful.
“I’m really pleased she feels able to share her story and hopefully it will serve to inspire and educate those who read it.”
Charmaine, who is married to Watch Commander, Neil, concluded: “All I can say is that I know how to look after myself. I have my husband and my brothers around me.
"I do have my moments of sadness but I get on with it. I have a good life - and all of this has just made me stronger."
It comes as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The global event on March 21 ever year, calls on everyone to stand up against racial prejudice and intolerant attitudes.
