Fire Engines Photos

David, thank you so much for taking the trouble to post this picture, it is great to see the history of this machine unraveling (see original picture # 4308). I hope others agree that the front end on these Surrey Dennis's has something special about it.
It's a rare machine, 1 of 5 built for Surrey and only 27 ever built.
They had what I thought was un-usual BA stowage, in that there were wooden, pull out, drop down drawers within the rear of the crew cab. They are just visible as the big white squares behind each of Driver & OIC seats.
I understand that this machine is still save-able, being in a scrapyard in the North. Would be fantastic to see it restored to it's former glory and back on it's home turf.
Much appreciated, as would any further pictures especially of this or any other Surrey machines.

Added by John D on 16 October 2008.

Interesting to see it on the forecourt of the Dunsfold station, probably no coincidence that Bill Fielder the CFO of the BAe Fire Service at Dunsfold Aerodrome at the time had also been Station Officer at Cranleigh when this pump was stationed there.

Added by Mark Butcher on 03 February 2009.

I am trying to collate as much information as I can about the Surrey Fire Brigade Dennis F44's WPD 235G - WPD 239G (See also picture 4308). If anyone has any more information, especially photographs and current whereabouts (DVLA Searches suggest that alongside WPD 236G, WPD 238G & WPD 239G may still exist) or subsequent fate. I would dearly like to hear from you. With thanks in anticipation John

Added by John Draysey on 24 February 2009.

John, the only information I have on the F44's is as follows. Registered on 18th November 1968 WPD235G was allocated to Dorking and then reallocated to Guildford and Oxtead, WPD236G was allocated to Caterham and reallocated to Cranleigh, WPD237G was allocated to Guildford and reallocated to Chobham, WPD238G was allocated to Guildford and reallocated to Oxtead and WPD239G was allocated to Cranleigh. Checks through DVLA dn Autotrader don't warrent us any gifts as to current status or whereabout except that WPD235/7G could be scrapped (Horrors). Hope this helps.

Added by Andy Middleton on 09 December 2009.

Andy, brilliant thanks for that

Added by John Draysey on 14 December 2009.

We were pleased to have 237G arrive at Chobham, where I was a retained fireman from 1970 to 1990. It came in 1977, replacing a magnificent F24, which many Surrey firefighters of that vintage believe was the best fire appliance ever made. The F44 was, like the F24, designed as a fire engine from scratch - not a commercial lorry with lockers, tank and a pump bolted on the back. We we sad when the F44 was replaced after about four years by a manual gearbox 'Dagenham Dustcart' Ford. Nowhere near as fun to drive and exhausting for the driver on a long run due to all the gear changing.

Added by Rob Searle (ex-sub officer SFB) on 08 May 2014.

WPD 236G used to be owned by a friend of mine from Nottinghamshire; unfortunately it suffered catastrophic gearbox failure and had to have re-con box at significant expense. Last heard of in a scrap yard maybe in the Huddersfield area?

Added by Rik Whines on 04 June 2014.

Can you please tell me what scrapyard please?.

Many thanks.

Added by Steve Toney on 03 February 2016.

This has popped up the other day still in the WY area, near to Holmfirth I believe.

Added by Matt Leggott on 03 April 2018.

I can confirm that this appliance has now been saved and will be restored to its former glory.

Added by Stewart Kaye on 12 February 2020.

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