Establishment 2000

Aberchirder had a call sign of 52 in Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, this was changed to R48, the new National Call Sign, when the Control at Mounthooly closed on 8/11/2016.

Aberchirder surprise ‘rehearsal’
Real thing as firemen get set for display 

A few hours before they were due to show their skill at a display to open their £20,000 new station Aberchirder firemen were called out yesterday to the real thing – a farm blaze at Old Crombie, Marnoch. A Huntly unit relieved them in time to prepare for the ceremony.
Commenting on the fire in his opening speech, Provost George Wood, Portsoy, chairman of the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board, said: “We could well be doing without fires at any time, and as far as Aberchirder is concerned we could well have done without today’s.”
Provost Wood remarked that the Aberchirder station was the 27^th new station to be built in the North East since the board took over in 1948.
“In Banffshire, where we have 10 stations, we have seven new ones,” he said. “There is one under construction and I hope to see another next year and one perhaps the year after.

PROUD OF THEM

“I believe we here in the North East have better fire cover than anywhere I know, and it is something of which I am very proud.
“We have good officials, good fire officers, and good firemen and they all do a wonderful job of work.”
After the opening ceremony guests saw the station’s new fire tender put through its paces.
Forty tons of straw estimated at £200, and a Dutch barn, valued at some £4000, were destroyed in the Old Crombie blaze. Firemen had to break down a wall of the barn to gain access to the bales of burning straw, piled high inside.

ARBROATH OWNER

Manager of the farm, owned by Mr. Charles Anderson, Arbroath, is Mr. John Fettes.
The fire was discovered by farm worker Ian Paterson, Old Crombie Cottage.
“I was passing the barn when I saw a glow through a ventilation shaft,” he said. “The fire had just caught hold, but by the time I had alerted the other people the barn was burning from end to end.
“There was nothing we could do once it got a hold. But at least the firemen stopped the blaze reaching the other barns where we have more straw.”
<PHOTO> Provost George Wood, fire board chairman and Treasurer J. A. S. McPherson (right), Banffshire convener, meet the Aberchirder firemen after the official opening of their new station.
(Press and Journal Friday, October 30, 1970. Page 1. Highland, Moray & Nairn edition.)

NORTH EASTERN FIRE AREA JOINT BOARD

OPENING

of

NEW FIRE STATION at ABERCHIRDER

on

Thursday, 29th October, 1970, at 3.00 p.m. 

                                Chairman:                                                                                                              Vice Chairman:
                                Provost George Wood,                                                                                       Councillor Peter B. Cook
                                M.B.E., J.P.

ARCHITECTS
Messrs. J. A. O. Allan, Ross & Allan, Aberdeen. 

MAIN CONTRACTOR
Mr. Leslie A. Anderson, 101 North Street,
Aberchirder,

SUB-CONTRACTORS 

Carpenter and Joiner Work                                                Messrs. Garden & Watt, 2 Banff Road, Turriff.
Steel Window Installation                                                  Crittall-Hope Limited, 11 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen.
Asphalt Work                                                                       Mr. G. S. Dyce, 11 New Elgin Road, New Elgin.
Plumber Work                                                                       Mr. J. G. Fraser, 57 Bogie Street, Huntly.
Electrical Engineer Work                                                    Mr. D. F. Milne, Myreside Garage, Huntly.
Painter and Glazier Work                                                    Mr. A. McDonald, 4 Banff Road, Turriff.
Terrazzo and Tile Work                                                       Toffolo, Jackson & Company Limited, St. Peter’s Lane, Aberdeen.
Door Ironmongery and Furniture                                      Parker, Winder & Achurch Limited, 251 Broad Street, Birmingham.
Surfacing                                                                               William Sharp & Sons (Forres) Limited, 8 Orchard Road, Forres.
Flooring                                                                                 Roberts (Aberdeen) Limited, 419 Union Street, Aberdeen.
Drill and Hose Drying Tower                                             Crofton Engineering Limited, Linton, Cambridge.

PROGRAMME 

INTRODUCTION
James A. Shand, Esq.,
Provost of Aberchirder 

OPENING OF FIRE STATION
Provost George Wood M.B.E., J.P.,
Chairman, North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board. 

TURNOUT OF APPLIANCE 

VOTE OF THANKS
J. A. S. McPherson Esq. M.A., LL.B.,
Convener of Banff County Council. 

Drill by the Aberchirder Unit of the North Eastern Fire Brigade in the Fire Station Yard 

AFTERNOON TEA

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

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