Restoring firefighting history

A group of ex-firefighters and fire enthusiasts, along with their extensive collection of vintage fire trucks, are making an appearance at this year’s Fieldays.

The Clydesdale Museum Fire Brigade describe themselves as passionate about restoration and preservation of all things fire-related.

A stall outside the front of the museum sells a wide range of food and drink to raise money for the brigade.

“All funds raised at the stall go into the restoration of the vehicles,” said long-time brigade member Barry Martin.

Barry said the history of the museum goes back almost as far as the vehicles themselves.

“The museum’s been here for over 40 years. Before us it had the Clydesdale horses. But the brigade’s been at Fieldays for a few years now.”

The collection of the vehicles themselves is widely varied. “We have a ’38 Chevrolet, a ’35 Ford, we also have a ’21 Dennis that has quite a history. It survived the Napier earthquake back in 1931, just drove right out,” said Barry.

Restoration of the vehicles includes paint jobs, maintenance and “just keeping them up to scratch.

“We repainted one of the machines, a ’62 Bedford that came over from England, ready to go. We have one vehicle that was given to us that we’re selling, looking at around $300,000 for it.”

Both the food stall and the museum are manned by keen members of the brigade, with some members of the ex-firefighters’ association on the team.

“Any money we get will be great,” said stall vendor Maria Baildon, “It’s all going to the association…we’re all members here.”