Fire Engines Photos

Great Photos, Was Prestatyn in Flintshire??

Added by Soren Heeks on 25 November 2009.

She was indeed Soren. One of the counties premier coastal resorts behind Rhyl. The railways came in the nineteenth century and bolstered the population twofold in the summer and when the A525 Potteries Express road opened soon after linking Rhyl with Stoke-on-Trent messers PMT started to provide services into Crescent Road bus station, stopping in Whitchurch, Wrexham, Llangollen, Ruthin, Denbigh and St Asaph. That's another story of blissful summer holidays watching the glory days of buses prior to Nicolas Riddley's Tory cockup of deregulating the bus industry in 1986.

Added by Andy Middleton on 25 November 2009.

Hi Andy thanks for sharing the appliances with us. They bring back happy memories of holidays at Rhyl and all that coast. As a child we had a caravan at Towyn. I remember going to Rhyl and seeing Abergele fire station, was it in a Park ? We used to get the bus outside the railway station. Paul

Added by Paul Warnock on 26 November 2009.

Pentre Mawr Park. Remember it myself Up until about 1982, the old air raid siren was erect there.

Added by Andy Middleton on 27 November 2009.

Thats the one Andy, Thanks


Added by Paul Warnock on 30 November 2009.

Thanks Paul. Glad it brought back memories. Pentre Mawr Park was used up until 1972 when the current fire station in Groes Llywd opened. I used to cycle up on my Grifter in the '70's and stand on the saddle to look at LJC488R through the mustard yellow doors they had then and the OiC Eric Walls I think, shown me around. WUN 73 was around the back. Only eight at the time. Carefree days when we could do things without the fear of traffic, PC Beurocrats, HSE. The only PC that scared the hell out of me was Abergele's finest PC Sion Ap Gwylwm. For you see, he knew I wasn't to be in Abergele as my mother told him on countless times my bike was put in the back of his Minivan patrol car and I was up front at the business end. Maybe I was meant to join North Wales Police at one point. Not there now.

Added by Andy Middleton on 30 November 2009.

I remember Big Brian Teal in charge there in 1990's, a lot of these old Sub/O's should get together and write a toe curling book! LJC488R was in use in Training when I did my Basic Training. She must have been replaced by RJC916T there? I did my first turnout drive on RJC916T,ahh wouldnt have swapped her for a Volvo! Mind you did my first bus turn after my test on a Bristol VR... I will die happy!

Added by Gary Simpson on 30 November 2009.

WDM488 was a Wrt stationed at Deeside Fire Stn from 1964 until it was replaced, also at the time , the alt manned Wrt was 43 BDM, There was also a Commer EST, the number I cannot remember the reg no, also a Commer wheeled Escape and a Dennis Foam Tender, which was formerly a major pump at Mold, and converted to a Foam Tender, and every year The H.M.I. always wanted this particular appliance on the drill yard, the reason being, on drill we used washing powder, to save on the foam!!! Alas, it never worked, but before he retired as H.M.I. they used proper foam compound and it worked. Alleluia!! Ginger Glyn used to like driving the old foam tender, cos he could show off his driving skills!!!

Added by Paul Cunningham on 15 February 2011.

I was an instructor in the Training Dept at Rhyl, from 1978 until 1985, serving alongside me, were Emlyn Roberts, Tony Hughes, Ritchie Jenning and Wally Gray, when Emlyn and Tony Hughes Left, Gareth Roberts became Stn O, Ritchie the Sub and Wally and I.Terry Flanagan was the D.O. in charge.When Ritchie was sent to Deeside, Jack Ford came as Sub. Stan Jones from Colwyn Bay was a regular stand in when any of us were sent to Moreton in Marsh, as was Phil Aird. We used to do our Retained Training Initial Courses at Abergele and Big Brian Teale was The Sub Officer thete at that time.I cant remember the name of the pub where ew went for lunch, but they made us most welcome.

Added by Paul Cunningham on 20 February 2011.

I was a mechanic at Rhyl Fire Station 1982/ 1984 . Remember working on this Dennis. I remember most of the people as well. Wally Gray taught me to drive HGVs, a lovely man , true gentleman. Likewise , Paul Cunningham, always courteous and decent even when my vehicle repairs didn't always quite go to plan.!!

Best Regards to any who remember me.

Ian Boulby

Added by Ian Boulby on 24 July 2016.

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