From 1972,this was one of 5 Dennis F108 Hose Layers(HLL)to go on the run with the London Fire Brigade.They were numbered-HL11 to HL15,four were delivered in 1972 with the registrations JLT 11K to JLT 14K,the other from 1973 had the reg-PGN15L. The later,PGN15L(HL15)was acquired in 1986 and actually went into preservation. Sorry,from this photo I can't quite make out the hoselayer number,(bottom corner of door)otherwise I could say what the original station location was when appliance was new in 1972,or maybe this is the one from 1973????.
Added by Pete Matten on 27 August 2009.
Hi Pete, Many thanks for all your comments, this is the HL 11. cheers JP
Added by Jacques PETER on 28 August 2009.
This LFB hose layer(HL11)was the appliance with the reg-JLT 11K.It served first at K30 New Malden fire station from 1972 until 1982,and then K28 Sutton fire station until 1984 then went out of service. Before the questions raised,no I don't know why the appliance is at B22 Lambeth,or why it as the HQ designation on it.I cannot find any details to say a hose layer ever actually operated from Lambeth Headquarters during this period,maybe it was put into some other use at Lambeth?. The above information has been gathered from the Fire Brigade Society handbook on the Post-War London Fire Brigade,and the Fire Brigade Handbook Vol-2 on'Special Appliances'.
Added by Pete Matten on 28 August 2009.
BTW, are those Staff Living Quarters, in the back-ground; with white-painted booth on 2nd floor, for Security Personnel ?
Historical aspect - from the days when firemen lived at their stations, perhaps....
Classic days of LFB. Yes Pat, those were living quarters now offices. Remember during a school trip to London in 1982, we went to B22 as it was and saw AEC Mercury 2GM4R/Merryweather 100' TL CYE247C, Shelvoke & Drewry WX/CFE PL's YHV203T and YHV203T, Ford D 0810/Hawson CIU YHV182T and Dennis F108 PE's MHM451L and MHM452L around the back. Didn't have a camera then as I was 12, but got one on my 13th birthday, a Kodak Disc camera. Gotta start somewhere. Oh how I wish we could go back.
The later,PGN15L(HL15)was acquired in 1986 and actually went into preservation.
Sorry,from this photo I can't quite make out the hoselayer number,(bottom corner of door)otherwise I could say what the original station location was when appliance was new in 1972,or maybe this is the one from 1973????.
Added by Pete Matten on 27 August 2009.