Cullen had a call sign of 49 in Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, this was changed to R23, the new National Call Sign, when the Control at Mounthooly closed on 8/11/2016.

Clearing the Ground – Work is progressing well on the demolition of the buildings at the former burgh yard in Victoria Street, Cullen, which is the site of the North East Fire Area Joint Board’s single appliance fire station. The new station will be complete with ancillary offices and changing accommodation, and there will also be a hose drying/drill tower there.
(Banffshire Journal, Tuesday, September 15, 1970. Page 6)

Cullen fire station opened 

<PHOTO> Provost George Wood, someone and four Firemen.
Chairman of the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board Provost George Wood, Portsoy, inspects firemen after opening the £22,000 fire station at Cullen yesterday.
The new fire station replaces the old wooden station in Victoria Street, erected during World War II, for the then National Fire Service.
Built on the site of the former Cullen burgh yard – just over the wall from the old premises – the new station is the 27^th to be built by the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board since they were inaugurated in 1948.
A company of about 60 guests, including members of the Board, Cullen Town Council, representatives of public and professional life in the town, and wives of the firemen, attended the opening.

EFFICIENT

Provost Wood told the assembled gathering that the Board were now nearing the final goal of their policy to provide a modern and efficient fire service to cover all parts of the Northern Eastern Area.
Although the old premises at Cullen seemed too small and inadequate by present day standards, they had nevertheless functioned extremely well over the years and this was in no small measure due to the dedication and enthusiasm shown by the personnel at the station, he said.
Provost Wood said they had been fortunate in obtaining the site of the old burgh yard from Cullen Town Council and revealed that the granite from the old burgh building had been utilised to provide the facing on the new station to blend in with the background.
“The general layout of this station more or less conforms to the pattern adopted throughout the Board’s area for a one appliance station,” he said.

BUTTON

Provost Wood declared the station open by pressing a button to set off the fire alarm siren.
In the absence of Provost William R. Wishart, Cullen, the senior magistrate, Baillie Frank Hill, presided at the ceremony.
In proposing the votes of thanks, Mr James A. S. McPherson, Macduff, Banff county convener, said they in Banffshire were very grateful to the Board for the progress they had made in providing up to date fire stations in the county.
Since 1952, he said, new stations had been provided at Keith, Aberlour, Buckie, Portsoy, Tomintoul, Aberchirder and now Cullen, and new stations were meantime being planned for Macduff and Banff.

DISPLAY

A new fire tender equipped with VHF radio has also been provided at the station to replace the old towing unit and trailer pump.
After yesterday’s ceremony the station’s crew of nine part time firemen gave a drill display in the yard.
In charge of the Cullen unit is Sub Officer Roy Shepherd and the members of the crew are Leading Fireman Alex Ross, Firemen James Pirie, Kenneth Stewart, Francis Cook, Robert McIntosh, Ron Shepherd, Alex Mair and Alex Donn.
(The Press and Journal, Friday, October 29, 1971. Page 4.)

£22,000 Fire Station Opened At Cullen 

The North East’s newest fire station, at Cullen, was opened by Provost George Wood of Portsoy, chairman of the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board, on Thursday.
The £22,000 station replaces the old wooden station, which was also on Victoria Street. It was built during World War II for the then National Fire Service.
Sited where the former burgh yard was, the new station is the 27^th to be built by the board since they were inaugurated in 1948.
A company of about 60 guests, including members of Cullen Town Council, the board, representatives of public and professional life in the town, and wives of the firemen, attended the opening.
Provost Wood, in his address, said the board were now nearing the final goal of their policy to provide a modern and efficient fire service to cover all parts of the North Eastern area.
In the absence of Provost William Wishart of Cullen, senior magistrate Bailie Frank Hill presided at the ceremony.
Since 1952, new stations have been built at Keith, Aberlour, Buckie, Portsoy, Tomintoul and Aberchirder and new stations are planned at Banff and Macduff.
A new fire tender equipped with VHF radio had also been provided at Cullen to replace the old towing unit and trailer pump.
After the ceremony, the station’s crew of nine gave a drill display in the yard.
<Photo> Provost George Wood, Portsoy, chairman of the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board, presses the button which set off the siren to call the firemen to duty at the opening of Cullen’s new first station on Thursday. On the left of the picture are Firemaster J. C. Donnachie of the North East Fire Brigade, and Mr James A. S. McPherson, county convener.
(Banffshire Journal, Tuesday, November 2, 1971. Page 5)

Cullen’s New £22,000 Fire Station Opened
Board Now Nearing Their Final Goal 

A new £22,00 fire station was officially opened at Cullen last Thursday to replace the old wooden station in Victoria Street erected during the Second World War for the National Fire Service.
Occupying the site of the former Cullen burgh yard – just over the wall from the old premises – the new station is the 27th to be built by the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board since the Board was formed in 1948.
A company of about 60 guests, including members of the Board, representatives of the public and professional life in the community, and wives of the local firemen, attended the opening ceremony which was performed by Provost George Wood, Portsoy, chairman of the Board.
Provost Wood told the assembled gathering that the Board were now nearing their final goal – to provide a modern and efficient fire service covering all parts of the North Eastern area.
Although the old premises at Cullen seemed too small and inadequate by present day standards, they had nevertheless functioned extremely well over the years and this, he said, was in no small measure due to the dedication and enthusiasm shown by the personnel at the Cullen station.
Provost Wood said they had been fortunate in obtaining the site of the old burgh yard from Cullen Town Council and revealed that the granite from the old burgh building had been used to provide the facing on the new station enabling it to blend in with the local background. “The general layout of this station more or less conforms to the pattern adopted throughout the Board’s area for a one appliance station” he said, “but, at the planning stage, it was emphasised that it would not conflict in any way with surrounding property. This aim has been achieved quite effectively.”
Provost Wood declared the station open by pressing a button which set off the fire alarm.
Bailie Frank Hill, Cullen’s senior magistrate, presided at the ceremony in the absence of Provost William R. Wishart and, in proposing the votes of thanks, Mr James A. S. McPherson, Macduff, county convener, said that Banffshire was grateful to the Joint Fire Board for the progress they had made in providing modern fire stations and appliances in the county. Since 1952, he said, new stations had been built at Keith, Aberlour, Buckie, Portsoy, Tomintoul, Aberchirder and now Cullen, while new stations were planned for Macduff and Banff.
All accommodation at the new Cullen premises is on one floor and comprises appliance room, muster room, watch and lecture rooms, with small kitchenette, toilet and storage, facilities. At the rear a spacious drill yard has been provided complete with a 50 ft. drill tower and combined underground water tank and hose target capable of holding 500 gallons of water.
A new fire tender equipped with VHF radio has also been provided along with the station to replace the old towing unit and trailer pump. The appliance has a built-in main pump capable of pumping over 500 gallons per minute, a water tank of 400 gallons capacity and a portable pump together with the necessary ladders and ancillary equipment.
Immediately after the opening of the station the crew of nine part time firemen gave a drill display in the yard at the end of which they wee inspected by Provost Wood accompanied by Mr McPherson.
Sub Officer in charge of the Cullen station is Mr Roy Shepherd and the members of his crew are Leading Fireman Alex Ross, Firemen James Pirie, Kenneth Stewart, Francis Cook, Robert McIntosh, Ron Shepherd, Alex Mair and Alex Donn.
Senior officers of the North Eastern Fire Service present at the ceremony included Firemaster, Mr J. Donnachie; Mr Ian Murray, assistant Firemaster; and Mr F. E. Thomson, Divisional officer
<Photo> The new fire station at Cullen.
<Photo> Provost George Wood, Portsoy, chairman of the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board, who opened the board’s new station at Cullen.
<Photo> Firemen at the Cullen station being inspected after its opening by Provost Wood. With him are Banffshire’s county convener Mr J. A. S. McPherson and Sub Officer Roy Shepherd who is in charge of the Cullen Unit.
(Banffshire Advertiser, Thursday, November 4, 1971. Page 1) 

BRIGADE – During Cullen Fire Brigade’s annual dinner and dance in the Seafield Arms Hotel, Cullen, retiral presentations were made to Sub Officer Alex Ross and Fireman James Pirie who have served 25 and 26 years respectively. A presentation was also made to Fireman Ian Wilson who is leaving after two years service. The divisional officer for Grampian Fire Brigade, Mr S. Stitchell, handed over the gifts. Leading Fireman J. K. Stewart has been appointed the station’s new Sub Officer and Mr D. Allan, the new Leading Fireman.
(Banffshire Journal, Wednesday, February 29, 1984. Page 6)

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

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