I noticed the comments about preserved appliances from Flintshire. This Leyland Pump Escape was at a rally in Cheshire back in 2004 when i took this picture.It is BDM 308.
Picture added on 28 August 2010 at 15:53
Comments:
Ex Hawarden and Flint appliance. We should get together and preserve some more Flintshire/Clwyd heritage before its too late!!!! Even the old Clwyd East Division HQ is partially wrecked now, crawling gallery and heat/humidity chamber worst damaged. An ex mines rescue station that turned out to the Gresford Disaster(266 fatal casualties) in 1934. See facebook.com/save.bersham.bank for pics
This machine was still on the run in I think 1970. "The fastest machine we've got" was the comment. Was this the last open pump to come off the run in the UK? If not which was? There can't have been many open TLs even by then.
First motorised appliance purchased by Hawarden UDCFB in 1938 for £675. Stationed in Wouldcourt in a converted garage, the first call for assistance was to an outbuilding in Beeches Farm in the Hawarden RUDC area. Prior to 1938, Hawarden subscribed to the City of Chester Fire Service for assistance in both the Rural and Urban districts. However in 1938 the first professional CFO was appointed. With this, Mr A.R George from the Wolverhampton Fire Brigade and his crew were placed on Whole-time duties in a seconded garage on the Queensferry crossroads, whilst BDM stayed in Wouldcourt in a retained capacity. BDM 308 was replaced at Hawarden in 1956 by a Commer QX/Carmichael WrT HDM 764 from Rhyl when Rhyl had Dennis F25/Dennis WrT ODM 714 allocated. BDM 308 was then reallocated to Flint to replace a war-time Fordson ECU GGN 721. After being sold out of service in the early 1970's, BDM passed into the hands of a local character Tommy Hollis from Garden City who had amassed a fine collection of antique vehicles. When Tommy died in 2000 BDM then passed into the hands of another preservationist in the Oswestry area. Hawarden fire station finally closed in 1963 when the new fire station in Queensferry opened on Chester Road. Connah's Quay fire station also closed. HDM 764 was then reallocated to Buckley replacing Dennis Light 4/Dennis DDM 634.
I was always of the understanding that Leyland Cub FK6 JL 5726 of East Elloe Rural District Council Fire Brigade (Long Sutton in Holland County Fire Brigade) was the last open appliance on the run finishing in the early 1970's - perhaps someone can advise / enlighten us
Andy, did ODM714 go to Holywell after Rhyl? Also Tommy Hollis had Bedford TJ/HCB Angus "Firefly", 2 at least, do you know where from? I thought they were for engine spares. His Leyland "freak" was the best college bus in the world.
A couple of inaccuracies brought to my attention by Herbie Brick from the above information. BDM 308 was transferred from Hawarden to Flint in 1954 and not 1956. This then alters the fact that Rhyl was allocated Commer QX/Carmichael PE JDM 711 and not Connah's Quay. JDM 711 was allocated to Connah's Quay at a later date which I will endeavour to search for. HDM 764 was reallocated to Hawarden in 1954. My thanks to Herbie for bringing it to my attention.
I'm a bit concerned that BDM hasn't shown at any of this years local rallies. Astle Park, Kelsall, Onslow Park or Malpas. Does anyone know if she is still in Ellesmere?
Added by Gary Simpson on 28 August 2010.