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Dennis ECG272 ex-Winchester
I wonder if anyone knows if this classic 1940/41 Dennis is still being rallied, or if it is in a museum. The photo was forwarded to me some time ago by an old=time London friend, Bryan Edwards, who must have photographed every London machine for some thirty years. He lived in West Ealing, but letters for several years to him have gone unanswered.
This Dennis is especially meaningful to me, for it was never an active London LCC Fire Brigade appliance, rather it was Pump Escape 1 for the City Of Winchester Fire Brigade, then NFS, then Hampshire Fire Brigade before disposal. During NFS days it stayed within the city, never going to regions beyond as it was a dedicated appliance which many other cities had. (Special funding or dedicated to some councilor).
I was a sixteen year-old National Fire Service Dispatch Rider in 1943 where we had long 48 hour shifts; during the first 24 hours I was on the first response watch which meant I rode the duty motorcycle to all calls, near and far. During the second 24 hours I was on second response, and as we so often had only one serviceable motor cycle it meant that Dispatch Riders rode whatever machine the Station Officer designated as a crew member. Often this meant one of the two Austin ATVs or the Mobile Dam Unit on out-of-town calls And guess who the bell ringer was. A few times it was on this particular Dennis, ECG272, where I'd stand alongside the Section Leader while ringing the 10 inch bell. and the very Irish driver, Len, would loudly curse anything and everything that slowed us down.
I wonder if anyone knows if this classic 1940/41 Dennis is still being rallied, or if it is in a museum. The photo was forwarded to me some time ago by an old=time London friend, Bryan Edwards, who must have photographed every London machine for some thirty years. He lived in West Ealing, but letters for several years to him have gone unanswered.
This Dennis is especially meaningful to me, for it was never an active London LCC Fire Brigade appliance, rather it was Pump Escape 1 for the City Of Winchester Fire Brigade, then NFS, then Hampshire Fire Brigade before disposal. During NFS days it stayed within the city, never going to regions beyond as it was a dedicated appliance which many other cities had. (Special funding or dedicated to some councilor).
I was a sixteen year-old National Fire Service Dispatch Rider in 1943 where we had long 48 hour shifts; during the first 24 hours I was on the first response watch which meant I rode the duty motorcycle to all calls, near and far. During the second 24 hours I was on second response, and as we so often had only one serviceable motor cycle it meant that Dispatch Riders rode whatever machine the Station Officer designated as a crew member. Often this meant one of the two Austin ATVs or the Mobile Dam Unit on out-of-town calls And guess who the bell ringer was. A few times it was on this particular Dennis, ECG272, where I'd stand alongside the Section Leader while ringing the 10 inch bell. and the very Irish driver, Len, would loudly curse anything and everything that slowed us down.
This appliance stands in the London Fire Brigade museum in Southwark Bridge Road SE1. As one of the Museum volunteers I often give this lovely machine a polish. Readers may be concerned to know that the LFB museum has very narrowly missed being closed down by the 'Chair' of the LFEPA, Brian Coleman as part of a package of cuts currently being implemented in the LFB. Our reprieve is probably only for one year and to ensure we survive we have started up a 'Friends of the LFB Museum' email site. If anyone out there is interested email in on '[email protected].' We need to keep the museum, the history of the London Fire Brigade and the heritage of the British Fire Service for our future generations, so any support you can give us would be gratefully received.
Added by Murray Beale on 26 November 2008.
Added by Murray Beale on 26 November 2008.
Bob, I photographed this lovely old lady back in the 1990's at what must have been one of the last airshows at the once famous Biggin Hill airfield before
it went into private ownership.I always did wonder what happened to this old
lady, now we all know.Great picture, thanks.
Added by Pete Matten on 26 November 2008.
it went into private ownership.I always did wonder what happened to this old
lady, now we all know.Great picture, thanks.
Added by Pete Matten on 26 November 2008.
It's interesting to know there is a LFB museum and I wish it well. Would there not be financial sources available to keep such an important historical museum going? Certain foundations make all sorts of grants, and, maybe I'm wrong, but I've heard that such important UK museums might be eligible for Lottery monies. I would hope that it is already incorporated as a non-profit organization and has someone on the Board who knows the intricacies of financing. (If my comments seem redundant, please forgive me, for as an American I know only what is financially possible for such groups here in California.)
To John D. I thank you for the suggestion that I visit the museum, but my travels have been greatly curtailed since retirement. I have several color slides of the training center at Southwark including shots of drills with aerial ladders, escapes, and laddering the tall training tower. All this was presented by the LFB during an international fire conference in London several years ago.
Added by Bob Graham on 26 November 2008.
To John D. I thank you for the suggestion that I visit the museum, but my travels have been greatly curtailed since retirement. I have several color slides of the training center at Southwark including shots of drills with aerial ladders, escapes, and laddering the tall training tower. All this was presented by the LFB during an international fire conference in London several years ago.
Added by Bob Graham on 26 November 2008.
Dennis
Added by John D on 26 November 2008.