1963 Austin FGK.80/Drake Water Tender Ladder.This picture shows an Ex-Cornwall County Fire Brigade 1963 Austin FGK.80(reg-540 SRL)which was built by Drake of Plymouth in Devon.It was new as a WrL(Water Tender Ladder)to St.Columb and in 1970 was transferred to Liskeard as a Water Tender.After a brief spell as a driver-training vehicle it was sold into preservation in 1980 and John Orme of Colchester originally preserved it.
I took this photograph of the appliance having just undergone further restoration(looks like a new paint job)at the Bressingham Fire Engine Rally in Norfolk back in 1991.
Pat Rivers-Bowerman passed a comment in reference to this appliance on a(picture 21149)previous photo in reference to the ladder gantry,etc,this later picture shows the correct 45ft 3 section allumium ladder type that would have been in use when the appliance was new and a Water Tender Ladder back in 1963 until in 1970 it passed to Liskeard and became a Water Tender.
Picture added on 08 February 2010 at 00:32
Great photo of a neat rig; and to see it safely in preservation.
Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B
Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 11 February 2010.