A Ford D1114/Carmichael WrT seen here on the 9th. September 1978 at the old station in Droitwich. Was this in Friar Street and is the present station built on the same site?
Picture added on 29 August 2010 at 15:19
Comments:
Dusty, thanks for sharing this photo. This is the old Station 8 and was indeed situated on Friar Street. This photo must have been taken days before the transfer to the new Station 26. I spent many happy times at this old station as a kid, as my dad was stationed there. I then worked, a few years later! at the new station, which was positioned 50 yards from this lovely old station. The new station is completely different from the old one. Whereas this was a single bay station, although they later squeezed two machines in, the new station is 6 bays. Initially the new station was 1 wholetime pump and 2 retained, later this changed to 1 wholetime 1 retained and an ISU replacing the third pump.
Added by Matt Ireland on 29 August 2010.
Thanks for the information Matt. There was a second appliance there when I photographed the Ford, I'll have to see if I can find the slide. I take it the old station has been demolished and the site re-developed?
Hi Dusty, the second machine was probably a Bedford TK with Rolls Royce engine if memory serves me right, I think it was a K reg. The station was knocked down to make way for that very important thing we all need.......a car park. My dad desperately wanted to salvage the old air raid siren which at one time used to turn them out, alas, the buldozers beat him to it. The only item that was saved was the original date stone that now sits in reception of the brigade training centre. Forgot to mention that half of the new station was later converted into the training centre, the station losing 3 bays and alot of its identity. Today its very cluttered and a horrible place to work! Bring back the old station!!
Added by Matt Ireland on 30 August 2010.
Kidderminster's Dennis HP RUY150V was also based at the new Droitwich station around 1990/91, housed in a training school bay whilst Kidderminster station was refurbished.The new station opened on 20 November 1978, housing 2 Ford/Carmichael WrLs and a Bedford/HCB Angus WrT. The appliaces shown here was involved in an RTA when responding to British Aluminium, Studley on 19th October 1981 resulting in it ending on its side. It was running as a WrL out of Redditch at the time.
Gary, you're quite correct about Kiddy's HP being based there temporarily. I also forgot about the 2 control units that were based at the new station. The first was a Bedford, quite elderly, this was replaced with a brand new Dodge which later transfered to Malvern when the ISU, H912 TUY arrived at Droitwich. I can't remember the reg numbers of either of the control units but hopefully someone can fill in the gaps!
Added by Matt Ireland on 30 August 2010.
Dusty, there's a photo on this sight of LFK 454J whilst it was based at Kidderminster fire station, before being sent to Droitwich Stn 8.
Added by Matt Ireland on 31 August 2010.
The Dodge CU was YAB257W, a Dodge G1313 with Benson bodywork. It was new in 1981 and was replaced by X785CUY the Dennis Dart ICU in 2000. Cant help with the Bedford, sorry.
Matt & Gary, the old CU was based at Kidderminster and was an ex. Home office AFS unit, reg. NYR824. I remember it being 'set-up' & in operation in High street Worcester 1st October 1979 at the 12 pump fire at Woolworths. My dad was the Div Cmdr based at Kiddy from 1969 to 1974, and then the H&WFB Training officer 1974 to 1979.
Hi Andy, thanks info on the old CU. I have vague recollections of it whilst at Droitwich. Was surprised to find that according to the DVLA records NYR824 is still around and taxed at the moment, although it lists it's colour as blue!! Spoke to my dad tonight and he has fond memories of your dad. It's a small world!!
Added by Matt Ireland on 29 August 2010.