| Wednesday
4th. May 1904:
Godalming's new Fire Station in Queen
Street is opened by the Mayoress, Mrs. Pilcher. |
Local dignitaries
attending Queen Street open day
May 4th. 1904
3rd.
April 1905:
Brigade Resigns!
At a serious fire that
occurred at T. Rea, Sons & Fisher, Oak Bark Tannery in Mill
Lane the Steam Pumper Broke down. It was later found that the
pump was poorly serviced.
The First Engineer Mr.
Tricker was demoted to Second Engineer and the Second Engineer
promoted to First, with this the Brigade resigned. Their resignation
was accepted, to take effect from April 10th. with the members
agreeing to remain in service until May 8th. 1905 so that a new
Brigade could be formed.
Eight members from the
old Brigade were reinstated along with 2 who had not resigned
plus 12 new recruits. One of the new recruits was the original
First Engineer who, when reinstated was given the job as First
Engineer!
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The
new Steam Pumper that broke down at the
Oak Bark Tannery fire
Note:
Our pump output tests are still carried out in exactly the same spot
today.
The
building to the left of the pumper is still standing.
2nd.
May 1905:
Report of Fire Brigade Committee, new Rules &
Regulations (following the Brigade Resignation): |
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RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. The Brigade shall consist of at least 21 Members, constituted as follows
namely: Two Officers (Captain and Superintendent), Foreman,
First Engineer, Second Engineer, Third Engineer (or Branchman),
Thirteen Firemen and Two Call Boys.
2. The Brigade shall be under the control of the General Purposes com-
mittee of the Town Council, subject to any delegation of powers by
such Committee to a Fire Brigade Committee.
3. The Captain and Superintendent of the Brigade shall be appointed by the
General Purposes Committee and all of their appointments shall be
subject to the approval of that Committee.
4. The Captain to submit to the General Purposes Committee a written
Report of all Fires to which the Brigade is called within one week
of its occurrence.
5. The Captain shall have the entire management of the Brigade at all
Drills and Fires.
6. All persons wishing to join the Brigade shall make application in
writing to the Captain, who shall submit the applications to the
General Purposes Committee, and, if approved by them, the
and the person elected shall sign a copy of these Rules, agreeing to
abide by the same.
7. No person shall be eligible to join the Brigade who is under the age of
18 years, this Rule not to apply to Call Boys.
8. All Members of the Brigade (except Officers) shall retire at the age of
55 years.
9. A Member wishing to leave the Brigade shall give one calendar month's
previous notice in writing to the Town Clerk.
10. All Members must punctually attend the weekly Drills, and while so
engaged shall submit to the discipline of and obey all orders given
by the Officers in charge.
11. Each Member of the Brigade will be provided with suitable uniform,
which must be returned in good condition (wear and tear ex-
cepted) on leaving the Brigade.
12. Members of the Brigade will receive 1/- per week, which will be for-
feited in case of non-attendance at the weekly Drill. Members will
also receive 1/- each on every occasion on which, in their capacity
as Firemen, they attend theatrical or other performances at the
Borough Hall.
13. The First Engineer will also be paid an additional sum of £3 per annum,
and the Second Engineer £2 per annum, for cleaning the Steamer
and keeping the same in good order.
14. In addition to the above the Brigade will receive the following remuner-
ation for attending a Fire, namely :
Each Officer, 7/- for first three hours, 2/6 per hour after.
Foreman and First Engineer, 6/- for first three hours; 1/6 per
hour after.
Second Engineer, 5/- for first three hours, 1/3 per hour after.
Third Engineer (or Branchman), 5/- for first three hours, 1/3 per
hour after.
Firemen (including Turncock), 4/- for first three hours, 1/- per
hour after.
Call Boys, -/6 per hour
With a minimum charge of three hours.
Additional helpers, -/6 per hour.
15. The Members of the Brigade will also be allowed an annual Outing, the
cost of the same being limited to 7/6 per Member.
16. In the event of Competitions, Fire Brigade Dinners, &c., the Captain to
report to the General Purposes Committee whether, in his opinion,
it would be advisable for any of the Brigade to attend the same;
and, in case the Committee agree that they do so, the expense of
the same to be paid by the Town Council.
17. Any Member absenting himself from four consecutive Drills, and failing
to give a satisfactory excuse for so doing, shall be liable to be
removed from the Brigade at the discretion of the General Purposes
Committee. If absent from a Fire he shall give the Captain the
reason for such absence.
18. The General Purposes Committee shall have power to dismiss any Mem-
ber for inefficiency or for using profane, improper or insubordinate
language, or who may be found the worse for liquor, or be guilty of
any disorderly conduct at Drills, Assemblies or Fires.
19. The General Purposes Committee reserve the right to alter any existing
or make any further Rule which they think necessary or advisable.
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3rd.
May 1910:
Report of the General Purposes
Committee:
Agreed to the installation of a
Call Bell System. Every Fireman will be provided a Bell in his
house with two call points, one at the Station and the other at
the junction of St. Johns Street and Manor Road Farncombe.
They will consist of a Break Glass with a pull handle to summon
the Brigade. |
 |
Dateline
15th. April 1912
Farncombe
man Jack Phillips, Chief Wireless Telegraphist on RMS Titanic
drowns after sending the first SOS ever
to be used for a ship in distress. |
12th.
July 1912:
Quarterly
meeting of Godalming Town Council:
It
was resolved that an instruction be made to the General Purposes
Committee, to make arrangements for a Motor Car to be made immediately
ready in case of fire to dispatch men and appliances to the scene
of a fire as soon as possible.
The Car was supplied by Victoria Motor Works, next to the Station. |
This
plaque once sited outside Queen St. Fire Station
is now located inside our new station at Bridge Road.
15th.
January 1924:
Report
of the Fire Brigade Committee:
With
regard to the proposal to purchase a Motor Fire Engine an offer
having been received from Messrs. E.D. Horne & Co, Auto-Engineers,
of London to sell to the Corporation for £750 a 60 H.P.
Dennis Fire Engine of 1913 pattern supplied to the French Government,
and never yet been in use, the following recommendation of the
Fire Brigade Committee was adopted, namely:- That the offer of
Messrs. E.D. Horne & Co to send a 60 H.P. Dennis Fire Engine
to Godalming for a week's trial and demonstration be accepted
provided the Corporation incurs no liability and is put to no
expense in the matter and is given first refusal of purchase.
Arising
out of this matter the Fire Brigade Committee were empowered if
thought desirable to obtain Expert advice as to what kind of Engine
which would be best suited for the needs of the Borough &
District. |
12th.
February 1924:
Meeting
of the General Purposes Committee:
The
Chairman reported that in accordance with the resolution passed
at the last Council Meeting the Motor Fire Engine offered for
sale to the Town Council by Messrs. E.B. Horne & Co. had been
purchased for £700, and the Estimate of Messrs. Dennis Bros.
for carrying out all necessary repairs and renovating the Engine,
painting, and supplying Ladder, for £104.17.0. accepted.
The Chairman also read a letter which he had received from Messrs.
Dennis Bros. stating that on examination of the Engine they found
it to be in a thoroughly satisfactory condition. |
|
Dateline
8th. June 1924:
Godalming man George Mallory, lost on Everest
in his attempt at the summit. |
Godalming's
Dennis Circa 1935 |
Firemen
at the rear of Queen Street Station 1935
1936
Septr. 14th. FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE.
---------- ----------------------------
Present -
MR ALDERMAN PILCHER in the chair,
THE MAYOR,
ALDERMAN Paine,
COUNCILLORS Phillips, Harrison, Woods Fisk,
Dunolly, Parfrement and Patton.
Chief Officer Knight and 2nd Officer Gates.
------------------
Arising on the minutes of the previous meeting
LATE DRIVER the Secretary reported that Mr Winter (late Driver)
WINTER'S had handed in his keys of the Fire Station, and
EQUIPMENT. old uniform.
It was agreed that no further action be taken
in the matter.
Reports on the following fires were submitted -
(1). 5th May, 1936. Chimney fire at "Brakenwood",
Salt Lane, Hyde Stile.
Expenses £6. 1. 0.
(2). 13th May, 1936. Chimney fire at "Elam Villa",
Farncombe Hill.
Expenses £4. 5. 6.
REPORTS (3). 16th May, 1936. Heath fire, Wormley Hill,
Witley.
ON Expenses £12. 11. 0.
(4). 22nd May, 1936. Chimney fire, No. 7, The Mint.
FIRES. Expenses £8. 2. 0.
(5). 28th July, 1936. Storeroom occupied by Messrs.
H.W. Siggs & Co. at St John's
Street, Farncombe.
Expenses £8. 17. 6.
(6). 17August, 1936. Motor Car on fire in Church
Street.
Expenses £4. 2. 6.
(7). 12th Sept, 1936 False Alarm.
The only explanation of this
call is that lightening caused
the alarm bell at the Gas Works
to ring.
Expenses £3. 12. 6. irrecoverable.
It was resolved to recommend the Council -
That twenty 50ft. lengths of "Camel" quality
canvas hose, complete with couplings, be purchased
HOSE from Messrs. Reddaway & Co., at a cost of £76. 3. 4.
This hose is required to re-place old and
worn-out hose, and provision was made for it's
purchase in the current estimates.
It was agreed that a further set of "Salvus"
"SALVUS" Breathing apparatus be purchased from Messrs. Siebe
BREATHING Gorman & Co. ,at a cost of £17. 6. 0.
APPARATUS. This apparatus is designed to combat ammonia
fumes generated by freezing plant, and is in
general use throughout the country.
The Brigade already possess one set, and it was
aggreed by the Committee in February last that a
second set should be purchased during this year.
The purchase of the following new uniform
&c required was approved, viz;-
Estimated Cost.
Chief Officer Knight. Boots. . . . £2. 0. 0.
PURCHASE 2nd Officer Gates, Serge
Jacket. . . . 1. 15. 0.
OF Hat . . . . 15. 0.
Fireman Bridger. Trousers. . . . 1. 3. 6.
UNIFORMS. '' Portt. " . . . . 1. 3. 6.
Rainbird " . . . . 1. 3. 6.
" Heade Senr. Tunic . . . . 2. 9. 6.
" Boots . . . . 1. 13. 0.
" Titcomb. Boots . . . . 1. 13. 0.
" Merritt Jr. Leggings . . . 7. 6.
-------------
£14. 6. 3.
-------------
The purchase of the following equipment
PURCHASE required was approved, viz;-
OF 1 new standpost . . . . . Estimated cost £4 0. 0.
EQUIPMENT. 1 adaptor, for use with the Haslemere
Fire Brigade . . . . . Estimated cost. 15. 0.
------------
£4. 15. 0.
------------
The Secretary reported that Mr. Macleish of
RETAINING "Knightons", Dunsfold, had been added to the list of
FEES. retainers outside the Borough entitled to call for
the services of the Brigade, at an annual retaining
fee of £1. 1. 0.
A letter was read from the Clerk of the Thursley
Parish Council that he had been requested by the
Parish Council to ascertain whether the Corporation
would be willing to come to an arrangement for the
taking over of the fire protection services of the
Parish of Thursley, and upon what terms. The present
FIRE rateable value of the Parish was about £4,000.
PROTECTION The Officers of the Brigade have inspected the
THURSLEY area, and are of the opinion that the Brigade can deal
PARISH. with the added area.
The terms upon which the Council recently
undertook the fire protection of the Parish of Witley
are 1/2d in the £ on the rateable value of the Parish.
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1938:
Campaign
began to recruit personnel to join an Auxiliary Fire Service.
They were trained by Whole-time Firemen at their local Fire Station
on a weekly basis, and were used full-time during the second war
to assist with fire-fighting. The AFS was disbanded in 1968. |
1940:
Brass
fire helmets replaced by a stronger helmet constructed of cork.
(brass helmets had been used for approx. 70 years) |
18th.
August 1941:
National Fire Service
formed to amalgamate the country's Fire Brigades throughout the
war. |
Back row right Fm. Harry Edwards
Front row right Fm. Bert Marshall
|
 |
Harry Edwards & Bert Marshall both lived in Peperharow Road. When the bells went down, Bert & Harry would pedal off on their bikes to Queen Street. When Harry got a motor cycle, if Bert was home would jump on the back and they would be there in double quick time! Photo courtesy Pauline Baldwin, Bert Marshall's daughter. |
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Back row left Fm. Bert Marshall
Late 1940s |
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1st.
April 1948:
Surrey
Fire Brigade is born following the disbanding of the National
Fire Service. Surrey County Council is now responsible for the
running of the brigade. |
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Dateline
January 4th. 1949:
Footballer Mick Mills MBE born.
lived in Aarons Hill Godalming . |
1959:
Surrey was the first brigade in the country to take emergency
calls at a central location. Prior to this calls were directed
to individual fire stations.
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