G25 STEWARTON

1 Pump Retained.

Stations

Armours Garage, Dean Street
Lainshaw Estate,  Kilwinning Road (Nissan Hut)
17/1/1962 Vennel Street,  STEWARTON, KA3 5HL                      Photo

In October 1950 the premises were an ex Army transport shed ("Iris" shed) at Lainshaw camp. 

Firemasters

? to ? Firemaster James Barclay *
? to ? Firemaster Colin McL. Bodie *
? to 1960 Sub Officer Jimmy Winning (died 1960)
? to ? Leading Fireman James Gray (there in 1962)
? to ? Sub Officer Robert Ballantyne
? to ? Sub Officer Thomas Orr
1987 to 31/1/2002 Sub Officer Freddie Slaughter
24/5/2002 to Sub Officer Dave Roxburgh

* These 2 Firemasters were the Sanitary Inspector who was also the Burgh Surveyor and Firemaster.
(From Page 120. The Bonnet Town by Alastair Barclay.)

 

 

Appliances

1937 G369 Halley Self-propelled Pump (Ex Glasgow) P
  GLR827 Austin K2/Home Office Ex ATV HrT
  GXH601 Austin K2/Home Office Ex ATV HrT
1976 YCS385 Bedford TK/Dennis Miles WrT
1983 KGA482N Dodge K850/Fulton and Wylie WrL
1990 OGD71V Bedford KG/HCB Angus CSV/Fulton and Wylie WrL
1994 E143XDS Scania 82M/Fulton and Wylie WrL
1998 J167GUS Scania 93M-210/Emergency One WrL
2004 P932SGE Scania 93M-220/Emergency One RPL
2010 December 2nd SF05DFC Scania 94D-260/Saxon RPL
25/5/2021 SF61DGX Scania P280/JDC/Polybilt RP
       

 

Notes

 

???? to 1941 Stewarton Fire Brigade
1941 to 1948 National Fire Service
1948 to 1975 South Western Area Fire Brigade
1975 to 2005 Strathclyde Fire Brigade
2005 to 2013 Strathclyde Fire & Rescue (Name change only.)
1/4/2013 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

 

In March 1914 a large fire at Robertland House (started by Sufferagettes) was attended by Kilmarnock Fire Brigade. ( No mention of Stewarton Fire Brigade.)
(The Bonnet Town by Alastair Barclay.)

How they fought fires in previous centuries is not known and it was not until the early 1920s that Stewarton had its first Fire Brigade. The members were all volunteer, part time firemen and the only means of conveying the ladder and the primitive equipment was on a large barrow. Later motorised transport was provided which was housed at one time in a local garage, and later in an ex-army Nissen hut at Kilwinning Road.
In 1962 Provost Walter Sime opened the new fire station in Vennel Street. Today there are ten local firemen, all of whom have full time jobs, including Sub Officer Fred Slaughter.
(The Bonnet Town by Alastair Barclay. Page128.)

On Page 127 of The Bonnet Town by Alastair Barclay there is a picture of Stewarton Fire Brigade early 1970 showing 8 firemen standing in front of the station and one of Stewarton Fire Brigade 1930s showing 5 firemen on their appliance.

During the Clydebank Blitz the machine from Stewarton went to Clydebank.

When the new call signs were being implemented in the WEST SDA over a 7 week period beginning 31/8/2020 doing 1 LSO Area per week, Stewarton was changed from Q17 to G25.

Crew Photos

 

The South Western Fire Area Administration Scheme Order, 1948

 

 

Equipment

Retained

 

1 Large Trailer Pump

1 Leading Fireman

 

1 Light Trailer Pump

9 Firemen

 

1 Towing Vehicle

 

 

The South Western Fire Area Administration Scheme Order, 1957

 

 

Equipment

Retained

 

2 Pump Appliances

1 Sub Officer

 

 

1 Leading Fireman

 

 

8 Firemen

 

Establishment 2000

 

 

Equipment

Retained

 

1 Water Tender Ladder

1 Sub Officer

 

 

1 Leading Firefighter

 

 

8 Firefighters

 

Stewarton Fire Brigade Gets A Stylish New Home
ALARM BELL PROCLAIMS OPENING
 

<PHOTO> The station has been officially opened - it's time for the trial run. (the station)
<PHOTO> Watched by Treasurer Richmond, Provost Sime cuts the ribbon.
Shortly before 4 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon of last week people in the Vennel Street area of Stewarton heard a fire alarm bell ring out over the burgh. Seconds later the local fire engine was speeding through the streets of the town – but there was no cause for anxiety. The feeling was more one of satisfaction, for the alarm bell had been rung by Provost Walter Sime to indicate that Stewarton’s new Fire Station was officially in commission.
The opening ceremony was begun with a few remarks by Mr. H. R. Mackay, firemaster, South Western Area Division, who introduced Treasurer John Richmond, Galston, chairman to the Area Joint Board.
Treasurer Richmond told the company that it was the first occasion during his term of office as chairman that he had attended the opening of a new fire station. It gave him particular pleasure, he said, that it happened to be in Stewarton.
It was in 1955 that the first approaches to Stewarton Town Council had been made by the firemaster and the Clerk of the Board with a view to acquiring the Vennel Street site. Eventually, said the chairman, authority was given in 1960 for the work to start on the new premises. “The new building which is of concrete frame construction, has been designed with a view to obtaining the maximum efficiency with economy,” said Treasurer Richmond. “New features incorporated are an external cantilever covering over the outside wash bay and heating of the station is by means of electrical bulk storage heaters.”

Cheerful Colours

Going on to speak of the exterior, Treasurer Richmond drew attention to the brick built walls and to the roof which, he explained, was covered with Siporex slabs – providing exceptional thermal insulation. The use of bright and cheerful colours had been employed throughout the station to add interest to the general scheme.
Treasurer Richmond said that tribute was due to the architects, Messrs. James Hay & Steel, of Kilmarnock, and to the work of the various tradesmen, and he thanked also the members and officials of the Local Town Council and the Scottish Home Department for the valuable assistance they had so readily given.
Provost Sime, before cutting the white ribbon which was stretched across the front doorway, gave a short history of the fire service as it had taken place in Stewarton. The Provost traced the service in the town back to the early 1920s, when Mr. James Currie, who still lived in the town, was a member of the original brigade. The Provost expressed his disappointment that Mr. Currie, a former burgh foreman, was not fit enough to be present, and also that a former firemaster in Stewarton, Mr. Colin Bodie, was also absent.
“In those days,” said the Provost, “fires always seemed to occur in the winter in Stewarton, and in the middle of the night.” The warning system had been the nearest church bell – or the nearest church beadle. Quite often this meant that the people round about the scene of the fire were there before the fire brigade.

Bargain In Brass

In, 1937, however, the Town Council, keen on improvement purchased from Glasgow Fire Brigade a Halley self propelled fire pump, complete with wooden wheels and solid rubber tyres. The cost had been £250 and the Provost recalled, “they got a bargain.” The big engine which had a tremendous amount of brass about it, had served the town well, and the last that had been heard of it was that it was still in operation in Ulster.
Eventually the Provost traced the history right up to the present day and concluded by stating, on behalf of himself and his Town Council, that they were most happy with the harmonious relationships that existed between themselves, the local fire brigade unit and with area headquarters.
After a tour of inspection at the new station, which is to be manned by 10 local firemen, with Leading Fireman Gray in charge, the guests were entertained to tea by the Provost and Magistrates. At the outset Bailie R. Cameron proposed the toast, “The Fire Service,” emphasizing the part the firemen played in any town. Like Councillors, he felt firemen were often “figures of ridicule.” He simply could not understand why. Everyone in the burgh, he remembered, had been greatly impressed by the work of their own brigade at the time of the big factory fire in Stewarton a year ago.

Fire Prevention

H. M. Inspector of Fire Stations, Mr. Wilson, of the Scottish Home Department, said that when he attended the opening of a new station he normally told the men that he would expect even greater efficiency than ever before. The history of fire fighting in Stewarton was not, he said, exceptionally lengthy compared with some other places but already, quite obviously, a tradition had been built up. He felt sure that Stewarton’s firemen had played their part in setting the standards achieved not only in fire fighting but in prevention, too, throughout the South Western Area.
The reply to Bailie Cameron’s toast came from ex-Provost Lanham, Ayr, a former chairman of the Area Joint Board. Mr. Lanham said it gave him pleasure to be at the function as he had been in the chair when the project was begun.
He had been glad to hear the expression “fire prevention” used during the afternoon as well as talk of fire fighting. “As we all know, prevention is better than cure,” he told the company.
Mr. Lanham brought the function to a close by thanking the architects, the builders, the Town Council and all who had been in any way responsible for the erection of the new station and also the chairman for the way he had conducted the proceedings.
(Kilmarnock Standard, Saturday, January 27, 1962. Page 5)

 

 

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

 

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