Establishment 2000

NEW FIRE STATION AT ELLON TO COST FROM £12,000 TO £14,000

BUILDING STARTED ON SITE AT REAR OF “THE CHESTNUTS”

Building operations began on Monday on Ellon’s new two bay fire station, in the ground at the rear of The Chestnuts, home of the late the Hon Susan Lady Reid, mother of Sir Edward Reid, Bt., of Ellon Castle.
As far back as last March negotiations were in progress between the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board and Sir Edward Reid. At that time it was reported that the proposed site of the new station covered an area of 100 feet by 87 feet, of Wellpark, part of Sir Edward Reid’s grounds at Ellon Castle.
Matters were delayed a few months ago, when the Fire Board decided that The Chestnuts would be a more suitable site but it is still hoped to have the station finished by the end of the year.

UP TO £14,000

The fire station will be two bay with a recreation room, watchroom and muster bay, and the whole is estimated to cost between £12,000 and £14,000. The new Ellon station will be a ground floor building similar to the Peterhead station, opened last year.
At present the Ellon Fire Brigade’s equipment is stored in premises belonging to the local authorities.
The Ellon brigade has Ellon and an area of five miles around to cope with.
(Ellon and District Advertiser, Friday, 27 October, 1961. Page 1.)

Ellon’s new fire station

Some weeks yet before opening

The North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board in Aberdeen, yesterday stated that it would be several weeks yet before Ellon’s new two bay fire station built on the ground at the rera of The Chestnuts would be officially opened.
The new fire station is a ground floor building built to the approximate cost of £12,000. Like the present station, which is well below standard, the new one will be a two bay station with a recreation room, watchroom and muster bay.
The Ellon brigade has Ellon and an area of five miles around to cope with.
Building operations began in October last year on the fire station, built on similar lines to the Peterhead one, opened two years ago.

RAN SMOOTHLY

As far back as March of last year negotiations were in progress between the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board and Sir Edward Reid.
At that time it was reported that the proposed site of the new station covered an area of 100 feet by 87 feet, of Wellpark, part of Sir Edward Reid’s grounds at Ellon Castle.
Matters were delayed once more when the Fire Board decided that The Chestnuts would be a more suitable site.
Apart from a few hitches at the beginning of the building programme, operations have ran smoothly throughout the project.
(Ellon and District Advertiser, Friday, 12 October, 1962. Page 1.)

Two Ellon firemen presented with long service medals 

NEW £16,000 STATION OPENED YESTERDAY AT FORMER HOME OF HON. SUSAN LADY REID 

From FRANCES RENNIE 

Ellon’s new fire station, which has been built behind “The Chestnuts” in Union Street, former home of the late Hon. Susan Lady Reid, mother of Sir Edward Reid, Ellon Castle, was opened yesterday by Councillor George Roberts, chairman of the North East Area Fire Board.
The new station, which cost in the region of £16,000 is the 17^th to be built in the Fire Board area since 1948 and Councillor Roberts said yesterday in his opening speech that others are under construction at Buckie and Tomintoul. Still others would be built.

LONG SERVICE

Provost J. H. Cordiner of Ellon presided at the ceremony which was held in the new Fire Station and introduced the speaker.
During the proceedings Fire Board Long Service and Good Conduct Medals were presented by Councillor Roberts to Leading Fireman A. Mitchell and Mr J. Riddell who retired last month.
Leading Fireman Mitchell joined the fire service at Ellon as a volunteer in 1941.
Mr Riddell joined as a volunteer in 1939.

ASSET

Provost J. H. Cordiner welcomed Councillor Roberts as the “father” of Aberdeen Town Council. He assured the audience that the new fire station would be a very great asset to the burgh. The Town Council had looked forward to this day for many years.
Councillor Roberts said that since Firemaster Woods had come to this area there had been nothing but improvement. Seventeen new stations had been built since 1948 and five others were already under way. The fire stations were improving as the years went on.

PLEASING

He thought that the people of Ellon should be very pleased with their new station and especially their firemen. They gave up a great deal of time for training and for that the tools must be provided for them.
There was still room for more men to work part time with any fire station in the area.
Councillor Roberts pressed the button to release the alarm and the new fire engine left the station at full steam ahead.
Provost Cordiner reassured the audience that it was only a false alarm.

PERSISTENT

Rev. P. C. MacQuoid, Turriff, county convener, in his vote of thanks said that Councillor Roberts had given vital, persistent and enthusiastic service to the Fire Board.
After the official opening ceremony a drill was given by the Ellon unit in the fire station yard and Councillor Roberts inspected the firemen who were present.

INADEQUATE

The Ellon unit was formerly housed in part of a building and shed rented from Ellon Town Council which was totally inadequate. The appliance room consisted of a shed with corrugated iron roof and earthen floor.
The project of providing a new fire station in Ellon commenced in 1955 when a number of suitable sites were seen but it was not until 1961 that successful negotiations were commenced with the Ellon Castle Estates Co. Ltd., for the acquisition of the present site and building operations commenced in October, 1961.
The station has been designed to blend with the surrounding properties.

MODERN GEAR

A modern pump/water tender has been allocated to this station. The appliance is powered by a Rolls Royce engine and is capable of pumping 700 gallons of water per minute and also carries a portable pumping unit capable of pumping 450 gallons of water per minute. Together with ladders and ancillary equipment. It carries 400 gallons of water and VHF radio is also provided. There is also a tender with a trailer pump allocated to the station.
The station has an establishment of two sub officers, two leading firemen and sixteen firemen. The actual strength at present is two sub officers, two leading firemen and ten firemen and the local officer in charge is sub officer James Dinnes.

CENTRAL CALLS

As with other units throughout the North Eastern fire brigade area, all fire calls are received at the Central Fire Control in Aberdeen, and the unit is called out by a remote control calling system. There are local arrangements to operate the calling system in the event of a breakdown in the GPO communications.
Within the Board’s area are forty fire stations (two wholetime, thirty six part time and two volunteer).
It is also proposed to build during the financial year 1963/64 stations at Huntly, Lossiemouth and Oldmeldrum. The new fire brigade workshops at North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen, is nearing completion and is expected to be occupied in the near future.

CONTRACTORS

The architects who designed the building were Messrs. J. A. O. Allan, Rose & Allan, Aberdeen.
The main building contractors were the local firm of William Bruce and Sons, Builders, Ltd., Ellon.
(Ellon and District Advertiser. Friday, 26^th April, 1963. Page 1.) 

Firemen called to …… in Station R….

At “Ythanview,” Station ………Ellon, on Wednesday, in ……… room of the upper flat, fi……. from an electrical point.
The house is occupied ……. old widow, Mrs Bella F. ……
Ellon Fire Brigade we………..dance.
(Ellon and District Advertiser. Friday, 26^th April, 1963. Page 1.)
The right hand side of the column in copy missing.

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

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