Keith had a call sign of 45 in Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, this was changed to R46, the new National Call Sign, when the Control at Mounthooly closed on 8/11/2016.

BRIGADE TRANSFER TO NEW FIRE STATION 

Keith’s new fire siren was tested for the first time on Tuesday night, calling the local brigade out for the transfer from their old quarters in Balloch Road to their brand new station.
The siren is installed on the high hose and drill tower beside the new premises, adjacent to Kynoch Park, and is operated, as was the old siren on top of the Institute, by remote control from Aberdeen.
A new road from Balloch Road has been constructed to the station, which is to be officially opened in September and comprises a watch room, recreation room, kitchen annexe, shower, toilets, a hose – cum – work store and a main appliance bay.
Assistant Divisional Officer Frederick Thomson, of Elgin, came through to supervise the transfer and a transport officer from Aberdeen gave the firemen instruction in the use of a modern pump water tender which will eventually – once the brigade are familiar with it – replace the present engine.
The station is one of three new stations in the Northern Division soon to be opened officially. The others are at Aberlour and Grantown on Spey.
(The Banffshire Herald, Saturday, August 31, 1968. Page 3)

NEW FIRE STATIONS OPENED AT KEITH AND ABERLOUR
Six Completed Out Of Ten Planned 

Banffshire’s two newest fire stations – at Keith and Aberlour – together costing £36,250, were officially declared open on Thursday, when both opening ceremonies were carried out by Aberdeen County Councillor Peter B. Cook, Kingswells, vice chairman of the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board.
Declaring open the £19,750 Keith station, sited at Balloch Road, Mr Cook said there was no doubt that Keith had been badly needing a new fire station.
The old one, he understood, had consisted of buildings in the burgh yard, although this had no effect on the very efficient running of it.

EMPLOYERS PRAISED

At both the Aberlour and Keith ceremonies, Mr Cook paid tribute to the town’s firemen, and also praised employers who let firemen off their work when necessary.
“This is very public spirited action, particularly in these days of Selective Employment and other taxes, and at a time when there is scarcity of labour. We are very much indebted to them.”
The Keith station is the sixth of ten to be built in Banffshire, and its facilities, including storeroom, muster room, appliance, lecture room and kitchenette, are all on one level.
There had been, said Mr Cook 26 new stations built in the board’s area and there would soon be another one at Grantown-on-Spey.
In introducing Mr Cook. Provost J. Robb, Keith, said the people of the town welcomed the new station, the station, equipment and facilities all being an improvement on what had gone before. Police Judge Col. G. B. Kynoch of Keith, in proposing the vote of thanks, said the Board’s area covered more than 3½ thousand square miles embracing the counties of Banff, Aberdeen, Kincardine and Moray and Nairn.
In the past six years they had built new stations at Buckie, Dufftown, Portsoy, Tomintoul, Keith and Aberlour. And in the next four to five years, they planned to build stations at Aberchirder, Banff, Cullen and Mcduff.
After the opening, the Keith unit gave a demonstration of firefighting in the station yard, in which a dummy “body” was lowered from the hose tower to safety.
The Aberlour station cost £16,500, and Councillor Cook said this was a lot to spend. But a new station for Aberlour was overdue, and delay always meant paying a higher price. The opening of the station was another step forward in providing a first class fire service in the North East.
Provost Peter Taylor said the station was absolutely essential, and would serve the needs of a large part of Speyside.
After the ceremony the local firemen demonstrated the new equipment.
(Banffshire Journal, Tuesday, October 1, 1968. Page 4)

If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.

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