KILMARNOCK’S NEW FIRE STATION

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY

INTERESTING SPEECHES AND DEMONSTRATIONS

PRESENTATIONS TO PRINCIPAL PARTICIPANTS

If the Corporation, took a long time to decide upon the erection of a new Fire Station, it must be acknowledged that the magnificent building which was officially opened on Monday is in every respect worthy of a town of the size and importance of Kilmarnock. The inadequacy of the premises in Green Street had been long apparent, but the Town Council had other schemes on hand which were deemed of greater urgency, and the question of a more adequate service for fire extinguishing was repeatedly shelved. Once tackled, however, the job was thoroughly and effectively overtaken, and now the burgh can fairly claim to have one of the best equipped fire stations in the provinces of Great Britain.
Besides the imposing building in Titchfield Street, the Town Council has appointed a permanent fire brigade of six members, who will be resident on the premises, and therefore ready to proceed to duty immediately on receiving a call. With a purely auxiliary brigade, there was inevitably a good deal of time lost in summoning the men either from their places of employment or from their private homes in the case of a fire alarm being sounded. Though the auxiliary system worked in a remarkably successful way, it was recognised that the time had come when a permanent staff should be appointed, and provision made for their accommodation at headquarters.
The official opening ceremony was performed by General Sir Charles Fergusson, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., D.S.O., M.V.O., LL.D., Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, who, in the course of his speech, congratulated the Town Council on its “wisdom and prescience” in providing such a splendid fire station and such efficient equipment for dealing with fire, of which “there is always great risk of outbreaks in a busy industrial centre like Kilmarnock.”
Following the opening ceremony, interesting demonstrations were given of rescue work and of coping with incendiary bombs in the spacious courtyard behind the fire station, and afterwards in the recreation room, handsome gifts were presented to Sir Charles Fergusson, Provost Wilson, and ex-Bailie Lamont, convener of the Streets and Watching Committee. The Town Council later entertained their guests to tea in Messrs D. Lauder & Son’s restaurant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS.

The new fire station has been erected on a central site in Titchfield Street on the main Kilmarnock-Ayr road. Four storeys in height, it is built of rustic brick, with white stone facings, while the windows are of the modern steel casement type, and the roof is fiat, so that it can be utilised for drilling purposes.
The ground floor consists of the Firemaster’s office, a watch room, and an engine room which provides standing space for three machines, with washing space behind. The doorways in the main building are recessed, and by this means very convenient egress is provided for the lire engines. There is a separate entrance door for each fire engine, and the doors of the engine room can be opened directly from the driver’s seat of the engines themselves, and they may be opened either individually or simultaneously. Adjoining the engine room is the watch room, Firemaster’s office, a spacious store for fire appliances, a change room and bathroom — complete with shower bath and lockers for the use of the men on their return from a fire — drying room, and suitable lavatory accommodation. The engine room and all the apartments on the ground floor are heated with low pressure hot water. All the call bells and pilot lights can be rung and lit respectively from the control room, and the master clock, which controls all the clocks throughout the building, is also operated from this room, The walls of this apartment are finished with faience in colours and the floor laid with red tiles.
Situated on the first floor is a five-apartment dwelling house for the Firemaster. Entrance to the house is obtained by means of a separate staircase from the street. Adjoining the Firemaster’s house is a large recreation hall and a kitchen and cloak room for use of the firemen. At a suitable point near the stairway and recreation hall is a sliding pole which will give the firemen quick access to the engine room in the event of a call.
The second and third floors contain six three apartment dwelling-houses for the use of the permanent firemen. Three houses are provided on each floor. These dwelling-houses each contain a living room, two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchenette and coal cellar. In the main entrance lobby to each house space has been set aside for the provision of a pram locker. The houses are laid out on modern lines, with outside landings at the back, and on each floor, at a convenient position, dust chutes leading to bins in the courtyard have been provided for the easy disposal of refuse and ashes. The houses are served by a staircase at the south end of the building, and each house has a separate entrance from a balcony which runs the full length of the building.
Behind the main building there is a large paved courtyard which will be used for drilling and training, and at the end of the courtyard there is a brick-built tower, 75 feet high, for the combined purpose of hose drying and wet drill. Also situated in the courtyard is a workshop where repairs to the engines and other Corporation vehicles will be carried out, a small joiner’s shop, a store, a battery charging room, and lockup accommodation for four cars.
The Town Council have abandoned the former system of having only auxiliary firemen and have appointed a permanent staff. The numerical strength of the Kilmarnock Fire Brigade is now 17, made up as follows:—Firemaster, deputy firemaster, motor mechanic-driver, and 4 firemen (permanent staff), and 10 auxiliary firemen. The auxiliary firemen will be trained at the Fire Station by the Firemaster. Electric call bells will be connected from the Fire Station to the homes of the auxiliary firemen, and these men will be available when required in the event of serious fires. The permanent men are all tradesmen, and when not engaged in attending fires or fire drills, they will carry out certain repairs work and other duties for the Town Council at the Fire Station. Their duties will include the maintenance of all the Fire Brigade equipment and fire engines and the repair and maintenance of Corporation motor vehicles.
The appliances and equipment belonging to the Fire Brigade department now consist of:- (1) A ‘six-cylinder 75 h.p. engine fitted with turbine pump of a capacity of 500 gallons. This engine carries a 30-feet extension ladder, 2500 feet of canvas hose, and all necessary hand appliances, and has accommodation for ten men. It was purchased in 1911 from Halley Motors, Ltd., Glasgow. (2) A four-cylinder 60 h.p. engine fitted with turbine pump of a capacity of 600 gallons. Purchased in 1926 from Halley Motors, Ltd., Glasgow, this machine has also accommodation for ten men, and carries 60-feet fire escape and 3000 feet of canvas hose in addition to the usual hand appliances. (3) A six cylinder 95 h.p. engine fitted with turbine pump having a capacity of 750 gallons. The body of this engine is enclosed and it has accommodation for ten men. The machine carries a 60-feet fire escape, 4000 feet of canvas hose, and all necessary hand appliances, and is fitted with a powerful searchlight of 3000 candle-power This engine was purchased in 1937 from Messrs Dennis Brothers of Guildford. (4) A six-cylinder 18 h.p. Singer saloon car, purchased in 1934 from Messrs Dick Brothers (Motors), Ltd., Kilmarnock, for general utility work in the department.
The new Fire Station has been erected from designs by Mr Gabriel Steel, O.B.E., F.R.I.A.S., and the estimated cost of the various works is £14,000. The measurer, for the work was Mi Robert Armour, F.S.I.
The following were the contractors :—Digger, mason, and brick works, A. A. Stuart & Co. Ltd., Glasgow; reinforced concrete work, James :Barclay, Kilmarnock; carpenter and joiner works, Alex. M. Inglis, Kilmarnock; plumber work, Thomas Wylie & Son, Kilmarnock; slater work, James Cochrane & Son, Irvine; plaster end concrete works, G. & W. Rome Kilmarnock; tile work, Toffolo, Jackson & Co. Glasgow; glazier work, George G. Kirk, Ltd., Kilmarnock; painter work, John Paton & Sons, Kilmarnock; heating installation, Samuel Gibson, Kilmarnock; electric lighting work, James W. Andrew, Kilmarnock.

THE OPENING CEREMONY.

The company present at the formal opening ceremony met in the courtyard behind the fire station, and then proceeded to the central engine bay inside.
Among those resent were Provost Wilson; Bailies Hood, Bowman, Gold, and M’Taggart; Treasurer Carnie; Councillors Lamont, Sym, Wark, M’Gowan, Wallace, Brown, M’Murray, Bryson, M'Cubbin, M’Minn, Walls, Hannah, Walker and Clark; Mr Norman J. Campbell, Mr W. L. Walker, Mr J. L Jones, Mr James A. Scott, Mr William Dunbar, Chief Constable Roy, Mr Robert Fyfe, Dr Nisbet, Mr A. M. M. Connell, Mr W. Thomson, Mr J. M. Colliston, Mr R. W. Lamont, Mr Adam Borland, Mr David Inverarity, Mr J. D. Wylie, Mr W. J. M’Carroll, Mr J. W. Macnaughton, Mr F. C. Oddy, Mr Frank Boyd, Mr W. W. M’Kenzie, ex-Bailie Tannahill, ex-Treasurer Blackwood, ex-Councillor Guthrie, ex-Bailie John Orr, ex-Bailie David Orr, ex-Bailie Peter Munro, ex-Bailie Edgar, Rev. D Hamilton, Mr Hugh Douglas, Mr Gabriel Steel Mr Robert Armour, Mr Andrew Aitken, Kilmarnock; Earl of Glasgow, convener of the county; Bailie Adam Hart, Mr Robert Paterson, firemaster, and Mr Galloway, ex-firemaster, Ayr; Mr W. Taylor, firemaster, Greenock; Provost Calderwood, Darvel; Provost Strachan, Galston; Provost Neil, Newmilns; Provost Hopperton and Mr Peter Dunn, firemaster, Ardrossan; Provost M’Kinlay and the Town Clerk, Irvine; Provost Kerr, Bailie Russell, and Mr John Hamilton, Town Clerk, Stewarton; Provost Wilson and the Town Clerk, Troon; Mr A. P. Carmichael and Mr Gilchrist, firemaster, Kirkcaldy; Mr Alex Ramsay, Glasgow; and representatives of the various contracting firms. Everyone present was supplied with a handsome brochure prepared by Mr Norman J. Campbell, Town Clerk, containing a description of the buildings, with a number of excellent illustrations.
Apologies for absence were intimated from Lord Rowallan, Mr Kenneth Lindsay, M. P.; Sir Neil J. Kennedy, Cochrane – Patrick, ex-Provost Henry Smith, Dean of Guild Bryce, Bailie Cairns, Councillor M’Callum, Mr John Craig, Mr D. C. Lawrence; Mr J. R. Lockie. County Clerk; Mr Thomas Boyd, Kilmarnock ;Mr James Kidd, Dundee; Mr Colin M’L. Bodie, Stewarton; the Town Clerk, Ardrossan; Mr Reid, Town Clerk, Galston; Mr Young, Town Clerk, Darvel; Mr Mair, Town Clerk, Newmilns.
Provost Wilson, who was wearing his chain of office, said they were very fortunate that day in having with them Sir Charles Fergusson, the Lord Lieutenant of the County, and he had great pleasure in calling upon him to open their new fire station. (Applause.)
Sir Charles Fergusson said he looked upon it as a great privilege in being invited to be with them that day. It was a most interesting occasion. He had been reading the brochure giving the history of Kilmarnock’s fire fighting services and it was very interesting to compare the equipment in 1889 with the magnificent equipment they saw before them that day. In reading the brochure he had also been impressed by the great care that had been taken in arranging for the accommodation of the Fire Brigade and of the men who were going to live there. It showed their

Great Wisdom and Prescience

in recognising that Kilmarnock, a flourishing town, must be properly served so far as its Fire Brigade was concerned. This was a great industrial centre and there was an enormous amount of wealthy interests involved. It was good foresight to provide the necessary protection for all that money which was invested in their burgh. A great deal of foresight had been exhibited in the planning of the building, and he wanted to draw their attention to one particular bit of foresight. Evidently it was recognised that there must be a future generation of firemen to take the place of those who were now serving there, and they would observe that in each flat a place had been provided for prams. (Laughter.) Obviously these were for the recruits for the new brigade to take the place of the present men. He would like to think of these young, embryo firemen amusing themselves from their early days by sliding down the slippery poles. (Laughter.) They were sure to be well trained. He congratulated Councillor Lamont, the convener of the committee, the Council, the contractors and all who had been connected with this scheme both in its inception and in carrying it out. They had a fine building there, they had magnificent equipment and he thought the citizens of Kilmarnock could sleep in their beds even more soundly than before, knowing that they were in every way well protected. He had much pleasure in opening the new fire station. (Applause.)
Sir Charles Fergusson then pulled a cord and the centre doors of the station slid open smoothly.
Rev. Dr Hamilton dedicated the new building in an impressive prayer.

Interesting Demonstrations

The company afterwards witnessed an interesting series of demonstrations by the members of the Fire Brigade under the direction of Firemaster Inverarity.
The alarm bell rang and in an instant all was bustle and activity. The motor of the fire engine sprang into life, the firemen took their alloted places, the station door slid open, and in little over half a minute the engine was dashing down Titchfield Street. It was an impressive example of the speedy manner in which the Brigade can turn out when its members are living on the premises, and was duly appreciated by all present. The engine returned to the courtyard at the rear of the station, and demonstrations were given by the firemen of rescue work by means of the fire escape and sling, and jumping from a high window into a tarpaulin held by firemen. There was also displayed the power of the turbine pump fitted to the most recently purchased engine, the column of water pumped through the hose easily rising higher than the 75 foot tower erected in the courtyard. In view of the present activity with regard to air-raid precautions, possibly the most impressive demonstration was that dealing with incendiary bombs. A miniature bomb was set alight on a wooden board one inch thick and in thirty seconds the flames, which were accompanied by showers of sparks, had burned right through the board. Another bomb was lighted and efforts to extinguish it with water showed that this method served only to increase its destructive effect. A third bomb was set off and the Firemaster revealed the proper method of dealing with this menace by extinguishing it with fine dry sand, at the same time emphasising the fact that to be effective the sand must be absolutely dry.

PRESENTATIONS.

Following the demonstrations the company had an opportunity of inspecting the building, and afterwards proceeded to the Recreation Hall, where cake and wine were served and an interesting series of presentations took place.
Ex-Bailie Lamont, who presided, said that he was glad to see so many representatives, from other Local Authorities present and also representatives from other Fire Brigades, and he gave them all a hearty welcome. He considered that Kilmarnock was now in the forefront with its Fire Station, and he trusted that some of them would learn a little from their visit that day. They were fortunate in having with them Sir Charles Fergusson, the Lord Lieutenant of the County. (Applause.) Sir Charles had had a long and honourable career in the public service, and had devoted a good many years of his life to Government work. He (Mr Lamont) had had the pleasure of visiting New Zealand about two years ago, and he heard very good reports of the work Sir Charles had done while he was Governor-General of New Zealand for five years. (Applause.) He was very highly respected and esteemed, and Lady Fergusson was affectionately and well known throughout the north and south Islands as Lady Alice. He would like to thank Sir Charles for coming to Kilmarnock and opening their new Fire Station, and he asked the company to drink to the health of the Lord Lieutenant of the County. (Applause.)
Sir Charles Fergusson, in acknowledging the toast, said that he was particularly touched by ex-Bailie Lamont’s kind reference to his wife and her work in New Zealand. They had a happy time there, New Zealand being largely peopled with Scotsmen and Scotswomen. It was delightful to come there that day and see the result of efforts being made to improve the efficiency of a great town, something which had been thought out with such courage and such prescience. All of them had been delighted with what they had seen and amazed at the careful forethought with which the whole thing had been planned out. He thanked them for their kind welcome. (Applause.)
Mr Gabriel Steel said that when those who had designed and erected that building heard that such, a distinguished soldier and administrator was coming to open it they were very pleased. They thought they would like to give him something as a souvenir of the occasion. The customary thing to give was a key, but as they had seen that day a key was not required for the opening of the doors of the fire station, and after all a key was not of any more use to the person receiving it. They decided to give Sir Charles a silver cigar box, and he had pleasure in asking him, to accept it on behalf of the architect, measurer and contractors. (Applause.) Proceeding, Mr Steel said that they knew that the Provost had been newly elected, and he thought they should congratulate him on attaining his high office. (Applause.) He was sure Provost Wilson would carry out his duties as worthily as did his late father, who held that office for some years. He believed that this was the Provost’s first public function since his election to the chair, and on that account they felt that they would like to give him a little gift. He had pleasure in asking the Provost to accept a silver quaich. (Applause.) Continuing, Mr Steel said that he had yet another presentation to make and that was to the very enthusiastic convener, ex-Bailie Lamont. He was so very enthusiastic that he almost took the place of a clerk of works. (Laughter.) His interest was all inspired by his desire to have a fine building and to have it built quickly, and he hoped the convener had not been disappointed in the building now that it was completed. He knew that ex-Bailie Lamont had had a great deal of worry, but he thought he had got over that, and his step seemed lighter that day. (Laughter.) He had pleasure in asking him to accept from the architect, measurer and contractors a silver salver as a memento of the occasion. (Applause.)
Sir Charles Fergusson, in returning thanks, said that he was most grateful for the magnificent gift presented to him. He noted that the Provost had got a qunich and he (Sir Charles) would be quite willing to exchange a cigar for the contents of the Provost’s quaich. (Laughter.) Provost Wilson said that it was most embarrassing to receive such a handsome gift on his first public appearance as Provost of Kilmarnock. He deeply appreciated the great, kindness of the architect, measurer and contractors and their thoughtfulness. He would like also to express to them all his sincere thanks for their good wishes to him in his capacity as Provost. There was an old saying in Scotland—” He is all right, but he will never be as good a man as his father.” (Laughter.) He would, do the best he could and he trusted that he would succeed in the end. (Applause.)
Ex-Bailie Lamont thanked Mr Steel for the beautiful salver he had presented to him. He could assure them that nothing was required to remind him of the work which he had put into the new Fire Station. He had worked hard in order to get the best results, and the fact that he was satisfied with the building as finished was sufficient reward for him. (Applause.)
Before leaving the Fire Station most of the company signed the visitors’ book.

GUESTS ENTERTAINED AT TEA.

Following the proceedings at the Fire Station the members of the Town Council and their guests adjourned to Messrs D. Lauder & Son’s Restaurant, King Street, where high tea was served under the chairmanship of Provost Wilson.
The Chairman, after proposing the toast of “The King” said that it was a great pleasure to have with them the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, Convener of the County. He trusted that Lord Glasgow had found he ceremony that day interesting, and he was sure he found the equipment and the new station thoroughly up-to-date in every way. (Applause.)
The Earl of Glasgow, in proposing the toast of “The Town Council of Kilmarnock,” said that to his mind Ayrshire was one of the best and most progressive counties’ in Britain. (Applause.) He had to thank the Provost for his courtesy and kindness in asking the Convener of the County to come into that burgh stronghold. It had been a very great pleasure to him to see the progress of Kilmarnock so far as the fire to station was concerned. He agreed with Sir Charles Fergusson that the equipment was extraordinarily good, the accommodation for those who had to live there was very good, and the splendid building was worthy of the town. (Applause.) When he passed through Kilmarnock he saw wide streets, traffic lights, well dressed and comfortably dressed policemen—especially in the summer—(laughter)—and he saw amazing public buildings. He was informed that they had not yet got a swimming pool,. but they were proposing to erect one, Cumnock had

A Swimming Pool

and were one up on Kilmarnock in that respect. He hoped the swimming pool would pay when they got it, because he was told that it was not a very paying proposition, He had been told that the Cumnock swimming pool washed its face. (Laughter.) It was perfectly evidently, passing through Kilmarnock, that it was well and truly governed. He, of course, met in the County Council representatives of the burghs, including the Burgh of Kilmarnock, and he would like to say what a satisfaction it was to him to realise during the past year that the burgh lion had lain down with the landward lamb. (Laughter.) They all knew that they had had a little trouble a short time ago about water. He must admit that he supported the County Council at that time because be had an idea that if they pooled their resources water for drinking and for other purposes might be made cheaper. That was over now, however, and there was no bitterness left behind. He wished to thank the Town Council for their hospitality that day, and to ask the company to drink to the toast of “The Town Council of Kilmarnock.” (Applause.)
Provost Wilson, in responding to the toast, said he had to thank Lord Glasgow for the kind things he had said about the Town Council. He had referred to the difficulties and differences of opinion that had sometimes arisen between the County Council and the burghs. It was his (Provost Wilson’s) sincere desire that during his term of office at least a new liaison might be created between the County Council and the burghs, and he could assure Lord Glasgow that it would always be his earnest endeavour to do all he could to work hand in hand with the county authorities, and he thought he was speaking on behalf of his colleagues when he said that. After all, they belonged to Ayrshire, they were all more or less rowing in the same boat, and he was quite sure that if the County Council studied anything that was proposed by the burghs they would find that the propositions had been well thought and well considered. In local government it had always been the aim of Kilmarnock Town Council to keep abreast of the times and to legislate in a practical way-for the wellbeing of the

Population of the Town,

a policy which, he was glad to say, would always be firmly adhered to by the present Council and, he felt sure, by future Councils. Proceeding, the Provost said that in Kilmarnock they had built 3000 houses, which he thought was a very good record for a town the size of Kilmarnock. He was quite sure that, the ultimate result of this policy of rehousing would be entirely for the betterment of the people, not only of- Kilmarnock but of the nation. To his way of thinking the rehousing of the people was one of the biggest things that had been done in this country for-many years, probably a bigger thing than had ever been tackled before. If they considered the difference in the outlook of a child reared in a back street slum and that of a child brought up in a finely situated, modern housing scheme they would agree with him that that difference must be all to the good. The health of the child reared in. the housing scheme must be very much better, and although they might not get results in their first generation of slum clearance he was quite sure the results they hoped to gain from the second generation would be very good indeed. (Applause.) Proceeding to refer to other improvements carried through in recent years, the Provost spoke of the main drainage scheme, the extension of the burgh boundary, the by-pass road, and the new Maternity Home. He also mentioned the proposed swimming pool, and referred to the value to the town of the Dick Institute, and the various parks and open spaces. There was one part of their municipal activities, he regretted to say, that had been rather neglected, namely, the provision of municipal buildings. The Town Hall of Kilmarnock had served its day and generation, and to-day it was completely out of date. He was afraid that that problem would have to be tackled before very long, because it was absolutely necessary for their municipal staffs to have new accommodation. There was just one fly, to his mind, in the municipal ointment at the present time, and that was the question of air-raid precautions. With all their progress, with all their science, and with all their education it was to him a tragedy that they should require to deal with such a thing as air-raid precautions. He sincerely hoped that those men who had gone out from this country to try to come to a better understanding with other nations overseas would be successful and that better counsels would prevail—that they would be

Spared the Horrors

of such a thing as the bombing and mutilation of defenceless women and children. They must do their best to protect themselves, but at the same time to him it was one of the tragedies of their day and generation. He wished in conclusion to thank once again Lord Glasgow for proposing that toast and the company for the way in which they had received it. (Applause.)
Sir Charles Fergusson, in submitting the toast of “The New Fire Station,” said that it had been most interesting to hear the Provost telling them about the Burgh of Kilmarnock, because it showed how an Ayrshire town was really going ahead, and it only bore out what he (Sir Charles) had said already that day, namely, that in every way they were progressing. It was a little difficult to know what to say in proposing the health of, a new Fire Station because what did it mean when one proposed the success of a Fire Station? He did not think that what they wanted was an increase in the number of fires. (Laughter.) He would like to congratulate Provost Wilson on having, so early in his term of office, seen this great improvement in the burgh. It must be a great satisfaction to him to see that piece of work accomplished. They had a long programme ahead of them, but if all the schemes they had in the future were carried out as efficiently as he understood ex-Bailie Lamont had carried out this scheme and if they got as efficient a colleague as Mr Steel, the architect, had been, he was sure they need have no fear about the success of their future schemes. (Applause.) Whatever it meant, he gave them the toast of success to their new Fire Brigade and Fire Station. (Laughter and applause.)
Ex-Bailie Lamont, in replying to the toast, said that it was quite unnecessary for him to refer to the past of the Kilmarnock Fire Brigade as each of them had in their hands a brochure giving a short history of the Brigade since its inception. It was ten years this month since he was appointed convener of the Fire Brigade Sub-Committee, and during all these ten years he had been more or less agitating for a new Fire Station and the latest fire-fighting appliances, and it had just taken that time to get them to the stage they were at that day. During that time they had had a good firemaster with good fire engines, but no permanent Fire Brigade. Their auxiliary brigade was scattered all over the town, engaged at their various occupations, and of course that was in the case of a serious fire a great handicap to the work of the Brigade, but all that time he was quietly advocating the establishment of

A Permanent Brigade.

It took a long time to get other 24 members of the Town Council of the same mind as himself, but that day the hew Fire Station was an accomplished fact. (Applause.) A suitable site was a stumbling block for some time, but everyone, he thought, was agreed now that the site was an ideal one. The station opened that day was the last word in Fire Brigade service. They had provision for three engines, and they had three engines, and housing for the Firemaster and six men. Their newest engine was a six cylinder 95 h.p. Dennis, with a capacity of 750 gallons, and the housing for the firemen bad all the most modern improvements. It was a Fire Station of which Kilmarnock might well be proud. Their architect, Mr Steel, had spared no pains to produce a station which would be recognised by all experts as the ideal for a large provincial town. The offices, workshops, garages, and houses were all designed with a view to comfort, convenience, and labour saving, and all the various contractors had acqitted themselves to the satisfaction of the Fire Brigade Committee. The Fire Brigade had for far too long been the Cinderella of the public services in Kilmarnock, but that day it took its place in the sun. He had looked forward for years to that happy day, and now he was pleased that this work had been completed during his convenership. (Applause.) Kilmarnock Fire Brigade was primarily a burgh service, and at present they were under no obligation to give service outside the burgh, unless to those mansion houses from whose owners they had accepted retaining fees, but they did give services anywhere when called upon at a regular scale of charges. The Government warnings as to what they might expect in the event of air raids added a new significance to fire fighting, and might alter the whole complexion of the service, and it was not outside the bounds of possibility that in the event of an air raid, fires might be raging in four or five different parts of the town at the same time. Now that their Fire Station was opened, he might tell them that a special committee had been appointed by the Town Council for

Protection Against Air Raids

and gas attacks. Four or five sub-stations would be provided throughout the town, and they were making an appeal to the citizens of Kilmarnock to join up and form themselves into a body of air wardens such as was being done all over the country. About 12 years ago they discussed the probability of building and equipping a new Fire Station in Kilmarnock, and this was also considered in Ayr, these being the only two towns in Ayrshire at that time which had fire fighting services. It was the intention that, if the County Council and small burghs would join with the large burghs, Ayrshire could be divided into two portions, Ayr taking the south and Kilmarnock the north. It was thought that, with large permanent brigades stationed in modern buildings and all the latest fire fighting appliances, Ayr and Kilmarnock could put up a fairly good service. It was considered that the service could be met by a small charge on the rates of the smaller towns and the county. He often regretted that no such scheme was arranged as the county had no fire-fighting service of their own nor had they yet, although some of the smaller burghs had now. Had a scheme of that kind been entered into in a true spirit of co-operation at that time, Ayrshire might now have been well equipped with fire brigade services. He was sorry to say that these proposals did not meet with approval outside the large burghs, but to the credit, of the County Council about twelve months ago they, through their Clerk, called a meeting of representatives from burghs which had fire brigades to meet one of their committees in Ayr. That was done, but after some discussion the meeting was adjourned, the burghs on that occasion not being wholly in favour of the County Council proposals. He was strongly of the opinion that no time should be lost in establishing an area system of Fire Brigade services and he was glad to notice that that was recommended in the report of the Departmental Committee on Fire Brigade services in England and Wales. That committee sat under the chairmanship of Lord Riverdale, and although it did not refer to Scotland it was significant that one of the recommendations made in that report was very similar to that put forward by the burghs in Ayrshire some twelve years ago. The Committee recommended that “Fire Brigades should continue to be maintained by the responsible Fire Brigade authorities out of the local rates. Certain other authorities will, instead of establishing fire brigades of their own, pay a fixed contribution, usually

Based on the Rateable Value

of the protected district, to the Fire Brigade of a neighbouring district for protection, and Fire Brigade services should become available to all ratepayers as freely as other public services, such as street lighting and police protection. " He understood that such a scheme was working satisfactorily in Stirlingshire by the brigades of the burghs of Stirling and Falkirk. Notwithstanding the failures which they had met with, he was convinced that if representatives from the county and the burghs came together and sat down round a table in a spirit of co-operation and with a will to succeed and the determination to formulate a working scheme, such a desirable project could be carried through in a very short time, and a fire-fighting service for the whole of Ayrshire would soon be established and prove a great boon to the saving of life and property. He sincerely trusted that something might be done at an early date to meet the wishes of the Government. (Applause.)
The toast of “Our Guests” was proposed in felicitous terms by Bailie Hood and responded to by Provost Calderwood, Darvel, and the interesting proceedings were concluded with the proposing of the toast of “The Chairman” by Provost Hopperton, Ardrossan, to which Provost Wilson briefly replied.

COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE.

To commemorate the opening of the Fire Station a bronze plaque has been placed on the north wall of the engine room. It bears at the top the burgh coat of arms in colour, and in white lettering there is the following inscription :—Burgh of Kilmarnock. Fire Brigade Station opened 22nd November. 1937, by General Sir Charles Fergusson Bt., G.C.B., G.C..M.G., D.S.O., M.V.O., LL.D., Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire; Provost George H. Wilson; Councillor John Lamont, J.P., Convener of Streets and Watching Committee; Norman J. Campbell, S.S.C., Town Clerk; David Inverarity, Firemaster; Gabriel Steel, O.B.E., F.R.I.A.S., architect.

CUP PRESENTED BY CONVENER.

Ex-Bailie Lamont, convener of the Streets and Watching Committee, has very kindly presented a silver cup, on stand, for annual competition among the Fire Brigade members and open to both the permanent and auxiliary staffs. The cup bears a suitable inscription.
<PHOTO> The New Fire Station.
<PHOTO> Ex-Bailie John Lamont, J.P., Convener of Streets and Watching Committee.
<PHOTO> Mr David Inverarity Firemaster.
<PHOTO> The Latest Fire Engine CS55?3
(The Kilmarnock Standard, November 27, 1937. Page 8)

KILMARNOCK’S NEW FIRE STATION 

The new fire station of Kilmarnock Corporation, which was officially opened yesterday by General Sir Charles Fergusson, Bt. of Kilkerran, Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, stands in Titchfield Street, on the main Kilmarnock – Ayr road, is of rustic brick with white stone facings, and is four storeys in height. The roof is flat so that it may be utilised for drilling purposes. The estimated cost of the buildings was £14,000.
In the courtyard behind the station the fire brigade gave a demonstration of life saving from the tower which has been erected for hose drying and wet drill. Afterwards the Firemaster directed several tests with miniature incendiary bombs, showing that water served to intensify the danger of these, and that a fine dry sand was effective in extinguishing the bombs.
(The Scotsman, November 23, 1937, page 10)

JUBILEE

21st NOVEMBER 1987

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

C Halliday
Firemaster

KILMARNOCK BURGH

JAMES YUILLE 1876 - 1894

HUGH MARTIN 1894 - 1905

ARCHIBALD McMILLAN 1905 - 1909

HUGH CAMPBELL 1909 - 1918

DAVID INVERARITY 1918 - 1941

NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE

1941 - 1947

SOUTH WESTERN AREA

P. DUNN, O.B.E., F.I.FireE. 1948 - 1953

H. R. MacKAY, O.B.E., Q.F.S.M. 1953 - 1971

R. J. KNOWLTON, C.B.E., Q.F.S.M., F.I. FireE. 1971 - 1975

STRATHCLYDE REGION

R. J. KNOWLTON, C.B.E., Q.F.S.M., F.I.FireE. 1975 - 1984

C.B. HALLIDAY, M.I. FireE. 1984 -

IN THE BEGINNING

THE FIRST COMMITTEE

The Burgh of Kilmarnock appointed its first Committee on Fire Brigade matters in 1871 and it was called the "POWDER HOUSE AND FIRE ENGINES COMMITTEE". However, they certainly took a financial interest before this when, for example, in 1863 they agreed to pay half the cost of the Architect's account for "making plans and specifications and superintendence of the sheds for the Fire Engines" in Green Street, and to "Contribute 5/- towards the cost of Fire Plugs in Waterloo Street"
In 1876 the Committee increased the Fire Brigade from six to ten men and appointed MR JAMES YUILLE, Slater, as SUPERINTENDENT OF BRIGADE with full charge of the Fire Engines and hose. He was given a salary of £5 per annum plus 5/- for every fire he attended. The Firemen were awarded £2 - 10/- and 5/- for each fire. It was also agreed to get helmets to "distinguish them from the Police and other members of the public".

EQUIPMENT

At this time the Fire Engines were hand hose reels and in 1876 the Committee recommended a new Steam Fire Engine be purchased at a cost of about £400. The subject of a Steamer was raised on numerous occasions over the next thirty years but, due to costs Kilmarnock never got one.
In 1884 a portion of Riccarton Tollhouse was converted for keeping one of the Fire Hose Reels and two years later it was reported that there were three reels of hose, two at the Engine House in Green Street and one at Riccarton Old Tollhouse. In 1887 the Committee agreed that "the Foreman Carter should live in the house at Green Street to be near the horses". In 1889 there were 620 feet of leather hose and 890 feet of canvas hose. A new Hand Pump was purchased in 1893 and a 36 foot ladder the following year. A small quantity of equipment was now being kept at Calcutta Lodge. In 1896 a sample of new Patent Instantaneous Couplings and a new Covered "Hose and Implement Van" were bought and one of the reels was transferred to Calcutta Lodge. Kilmarnock therefore had Three Fire Stations at that time - Green Street, Riccarton Toll and Calcutta Lodge.
The Chief Constable of the Burgh suggested in 1899 that arrangements had to be made to have the hose barrow pulled by a horse as "it is found to be nearly impossible for two Constables to draw it through the streets".
The number of hydrants fitted increased each year and in 1902 the Firemaster recommended fitting plates on walls throughout the town to mark the position of each hydrant. Two years later the Committee agreed that hydrants were to be fitted approximately 100 yards apart as new buildings are erected.
If the Burgh of Kilmarnock could be accused of dragging their heels over the purchase of a Steam Fire Engine, they made up for it in 1911.
The beginning of the century saw a new awareness of firefighting. MR ARCHIBALD McMILLAN was appointed Kilmarnock's first full time Firemaster in 1905 and when they took delivery of a HALLEY Fire Engine in 1911 it is understood that they were the first provincial Burgh in Scotland with a MOTOR FIRE ENGINE. At the same time major alterations were being made to the Station in Green Street. The Halley cost £985 and the Fire Station modifications were estimated at £400.
The quantity and standard of equipment continued to improve and in 1926 a second HALLEY 500 gallon Fire Pump with a WHEELED FIRE ESCAPE was bought for £1,730 and also two SMOKE HELMETS bought in 1928 for £12. The Firemaster reported in 1933 that the newer HALLEY (no.2 Pump) would require pneumatic tyres to be fitted under Ministry of Transport Regulations at a cost of £110.
In 1936, following a report from the Firemaster, a Sub Committee was remitted to take offers for the latest type of Fire Engine with Fire Escape plus other items of equipment and some of the offers accepted were :-A DENNIS 6 cylinder Turbine Motor Fire Engine with an enclosed body and WHEELED ESCAPE, delivered in 1937 for £1,810.
Two Siebe Gorman "SALVUS" Patent Half Hour BREATHING APPARATUS sets with spares for £43 - l/-,
One Pyrene No.2 FOAM MAKING BRANCH with Knapsack tank and tube for £30 and 6 gallons of Foam Compound at 30/- per gallon.

PERSONNEL

As already mentioned, JAMES YUILLE was the first man to be appointed as Kilmarnock Burgh Firemaster. He retired in 1894 after 27 years in the Brigade. He became a Councillor and served for many years in the Fire Brigade Committee. As its Convenor in 1912 he improved the MEANS OF ESCAPE from the Public Halls and Churches in The Burgh by arranging for doors to be altered to open outwards.
In 1886 the Firemen were required to meet for drill in the Agricultural Hall on the last Saturday of each month and the Firemaster reported as to their attendance. In the 1892 Firemaster's Annual report the following names were recorded for attendance at drill and fires:-