RANNOCH SCHOOL

1 Pump Private.

Stations

1959? to 2002                Large Wooden garage to house appliance           Photo

Firemasters

A teacher was in charge of the unit.

1973                                        Mr W.H.Jarvis (Master in Charge of the school Brigade)

1992                                        Mr Michael Ritson (Master in Charge of the school Brigade)

Appliances

Brigades

1959 to 2002                          Rannoch School Fire Brigade

Notes

Rannoch School brigade quickly in action at boathouse

Rannoch School, Perthshire, Fire Brigade was quickly on the scene when the school’s rowing club boathouse was involved in fire at 2030 one Sunday in February. Three hoses were delivering within 15 minutes of the outbreak, but the building and contents—provisionally valued at £16,000—were beyond saving.

The cause was thought to be illicit smoking by pupils, states Mr. W. H. Jarvis, master-in-charge of the school brigade, from whom this report has been received.

The fire was also attended by the Kinloch Rannoch volunteer unit of Perth and Kinross Fire Brigade and by the retained units at Pitlochry and Aberfeldy, some 25 miles away.

Mr. Jarvis says that the school brigade undergoes regular formal training, with much help and advice from the Perth and Kinross brigade. The two best cadet firemen each year attend an 18-hour course at Perth HQ, after which they hold the acting rank of Leading Fireman.

The brigade maintains two vehicles, two pumps, foam generating gear and portable extinguishers sited around the school. Recently the school’s thyristor alarm system won a prize in a competition organized by the Institute of Electrical Engineers for the best school project in the Tayside area.

In command of the brigade this year are Acting Leading Firemen Robert Gordon, from Blair Atholl, and Ian Galbraith, from Kenya.

(Fire, May 1973. Page 629.)

New fire engine for remote school
Graeme Giles 

A new chapter in the unique 30 year relationship between Tayside Fire Brigade and remote Rannoch School was written this week.
Regional Firemaster Derek Marr visited the Lochside public school on Tuesday to hand over a ‘new’ appliance to its staff and pupil manned fire service.
The Dodge water tender ladder formally part of the brigade’s fleet and refurbished by its Dundee workshops before delivery to Highland Perthshire – replaces a similar vehicle which has reached the end of its working life.
Perth base Divisional Officer Willie Herd, who accompanied Mr Marr explained that the fire engine – the third to be based at Rannoch School – is stationed there on a permanent loan basis.
“In return for our help with equipment and training they assist the brigade by turning out when we request their help,” explained Mr Herd.
“The western end of the Loch Rannoch area is one of the most remote in our division and the school term is in a position to provide first line of defence cover until the arrival of the retained crews from Aberfeldy and Pitlochry and the volunteers from Kinloch Rannoch.
“In the past, including on two occasions last year, they’ve assisted in dealing with out of the way moorland fires – the kind which can take considerable time to extinguish.”
The Rannoch School firefighters were established in 1959 when the school first opened. Made up of five crews of four - all fifth and sixth formers, girls as well as boys – they are all in the charge of master Mr Michael Ritson who is assisted by firefighter Grant Macdonald from the Kinloch Rannoch volunteers.
“In addition to weekly training sessions, one of our qualified instructors visits the school four or five times a year,” said Divisional Officer Herd. “We also give help with essential items such as protective clothing.”
Handing over the new appliance at a ceremony at the school, Mr Marr said it marked a continuation of a three decade association which Tayside Fire Brigade valued.
<PHOTO> Firemaster Derek Marr hands the keys over to Mike Ritson. Looking on is Divisional Commander Willie Herd, headmaster Michael Barratt and members of the school’s fire crew. (10 firefighters)
(Perthshire Advertiser, September 11,1992. Page 4)
Dodge K850 __R789_)

Due to financial problems and a falling roll the Board of Governors decided to close the school in 2002 and the machine was sold (as one of the school’s assets) to a caravan park.

The school was not allowed to attend any fires except grass ones as they were too young and not insured. The first attendance for the school is Kinloch Rannoch Volunteer un it, although I am led to believe that on occasion when the volunteers arrived at a chimney fire at the school, the school brigade was already there putting a jet into the air and trying to get it to fall back down the chimney to extinguish the fire. The school apparently only had the School Brigade for their Duke of Edinburgh’s award.

Tayside Fire Brigade used to send an officer up one Tuesday afternoon a month to train them (he would stay and do the Volunteer training that night) and the boys got training from a teacher every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

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

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