Author Topic: auxilliary fire service and civil defence in our area  (Read 1756 times)

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Offline gaztrucker

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auxilliary fire service and civil defence in our area
« on: September 09, 2018, 04:54:37 pm »
hi anyone have any memories of the AFS and civil defence corps locally? i have hazy childhood memories of convoys of shiny green fire appliances and cargo trucks rolling through colwyn bay and wondering what they were

Offline mull

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Re: auxilliary fire service and civil defence in our area
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2018, 05:47:04 pm »
Green Fire engines were kept in depots for use in National Emergencies. Last time I remember them being used was in the late 1970s during a Fire Brigade union strike.
At the time I was a member of RNXS, Bristol unit and for the duration of the strike our shore base, HMS Flying Fox was used as a base for them. They were manned by army regulars who were based in our unit for the duration which if my memory is correct went on for a few weeks.
Not seen one for a long time so I do not know if they are still kept for the next emergency situation. They will be a bit long in the tooth by know.


Offline Cambrian

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Re: auxilliary fire service and civil defence in our area
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2018, 06:46:42 pm »
There was definitely an AFS "Green Goddess" based at Colwyn Bay fire station until the service's abolition in 1968.  The AFS staff were volunteers similar to the special constabulary and turned out for drill and practice there once a week. I believe the Goddess may have been retained by the Fire Service at the Bay but most were returned to the Home Office depots.

Offline alw

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Re: auxilliary fire service and civil defence in our area
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2018, 10:38:16 pm »
Some AFS appliances remained with the north wales brigades long after 1968, they were repainted red.

The pumping appliances were used regularly as base pumps at protracted fires on moorlands and peat bogs. They ran 24/7 for weeks when necessary.

Clwyd also had specialist  ex-AFS  vehicles too; a heavy rescue crane used by workshops and a couple of general purpose lorries, one was based at Mold as a bulk foam unit. That vehicle was even made into a Corgi model.
Things are never so bad that they can't get worse.

I never said it was your fault; I said I was blaming you.

Offline gaztrucker

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Re: auxilliary fire service and civil defence in our area
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2018, 06:20:49 pm »
thanks for your replies lads also the pictures i drove bedford rls many times in my army career short story if anyones interested before i joined up i drove bedford j type and tk wagons for john garstang in rhos hgv training arose in the army and i was shown a bedford rl 4 ton wagon upon climbing in the cab it was all very familiar to what i had driven in civvies very much like a j type the only comfort being  the springy seats!!!! any way i passed and the rest is history driven scania volvo merc daf iveco since then now i drive a dennis kerbsider for conwy council incidentally if anyone is techy minded my wagon has a volvo penta md70 marine engine !!!!! why ? i dont know hope you enjoy my posts and look forward to your entertaining replies cheers lads

Offline SteveH

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Re: auxilliary fire service and civil defence in our area
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2018, 07:05:25 pm »
Your thread started with fire appliances, and you mentioned your Dennis truck, which reminded me that they made most of the brigades appliances, I was brought up living in fire stations, surrounded by these vehicles, after searching for some information, I was surprised to read.... "the name Dennis is synonymous with shiny red fire engines, and has been so for almost the whole of the 20th century. And yet this iconic vehicle has quietly all but disappeared from Britain’s streets"

For those interested....http://autonews.uk.com/golden-oldies/whatever-happened-to-dennis-fire-engines/

Offline gaztrucker

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Re: auxilliary fire service and civil defence in our area
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2018, 07:23:41 pm »
hi steve h dennis trucks are now all municipal vehicles made by dennis eagle ltd bin wagons recycling trucks etc still miss the days of the old rolls royce straight 8 petrol engine appliances 6 foot flame out of the exhaust on the overun  round fortes corner in rhos!!!! happy days