Station 26 ABERFELDY

1 Pump Retained.

Stations

14/5/1969 Crieff Road, ABERFELDY. PA15 2BJ.           Photo

 

Firemasters

1903 Captain Donald Reid
Late 1930s to 1941 Firemaster James McDonald
1941 to 1948 Section Leader James McDonald
1948 to ? Sub/LFm ? James McDonald
1960 Sub Officer Carmichael
2000 Sub Officer Dave Stewart
2007 Watch Manager Dave Stewart

 

Station Commanders

1999 to 2002

ADO Mick McKay

2002 to 2004

ADO Colin Hannigan

2004 to 2007

ADO Stewart Edgar
2007 to Station Manager Billy McLintock

 

Appliances

1903   Standpipe & Hose  
?   Steam Pump  
?   Daimler Car & Dennis Trailer Pump  
1945?   Austin ATV
1952 EGS43 Commer QX/McMurray & Archibald PE
1954 FES906 Commer 45A/HCB WrT
1970 UES871K Dodge K850/HCB Angus WrL
1990 XSP678T Dodge K1113/HCB Angus WrL
1992 D641ESL Dodge G13c/Fulton and Wylie WrL
1998 J389ESN Volvo FL6-14/Emergency One WrL
2003 V961DSN Scania 94D-260/Emergency One WrL
2007 Y299PSP Scania 94D-260/Excalibur RP

 

 

Brigades

1903 to 1941 Aberfeldy Fire Brigade
1941 to 1948 National Fire Service
1948 to 1975 Perth and Kinross Fire Brigade
1975 to Tayside Fire Brigade

 

Notes

 

The Perth and Kinross Fire Area Administration Scheme Order, 1948

 

                Equipment                                                                                             Retained

                1 Standard Towing Unit with Light Pump mounted                       1 Leading Fireman
                1 Large Trailer Pump                                                                            9 Firemen

 

 

The Perth and Kinross Fire Area Administration Scheme Order, 1952

 

                Equipment                                                                                             Retained

                1 Pump Appliance                                                                                2 Leading Firemen
                                                                                                                                8 Firemen

 

 

Establishment 2000

 

                Equipment                                                                                             Retained

                1 Water Tender Ladder                                                                       1 Sub Officer
                                                                                                                                ? Leading Firefighters
                                                                                                                                ? Firefighters

 

Aberfeldy’s New Fire Station Opened

 
The new £11,000 fire station at Aberfeldy was officially opened on Wednesday evening by Provost James Fisher.
Situated in Crieff Road, the station is a single bay unit, consisting of an appliance room, lecture room, kitchen and showers. It took just under a year to complete.
In his address to the large company who attended the opening, Provost Fisher gave a brief history of Aberfeldy Fire Brigade.
“The new Fire Station,” he said, “is a great asset to Aberfeldy and this is an eventful occasion for all local people.”
The Fire Brigade in the town was started in 1903, and comprised 13 men. In those far off days, Government grants and assistance were not in existence, and running costs were aided by social functions and help from the Council. In 1911 motor transport was used for the first time and from then on the Aberfeldy Brigade never looked back.
Presiding over the ceremony was Councillor John Kydd, chairman of Perth and Kinross Fire Committee, who said: “Aberfeldy Brigade have a long list of honours to their name and this is another occasion for their annals.” He added ………
new station in Aberfeldy ………
thirteenth to be built by …….
 Fire Committee since 194 …….
The proceedings were …….       
Mr James Mcnab yr. of ………
Following the ceremo…….
present were invited to vi……..
station.
(Perth Advertiser, Saturday, 17 May, 1969. Page 13.)

 

 

RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF ABERFELDY FIRE BRIGADE

On Wednesday 21 October 1903 a group of public spirited men met in the Council chamber of Aberfeldy town hall to consider the advisability of forming a fire brigade for the burgh.
The meeting was chaired by Bailie Donald Reid and it was unanimously agreed to form a brigade of 13 members. Bailie Donald Reid was appointed Captain and James McDonald was appointed foreman.
Within weeks of the inception of the brigade a Committee was appointed to draw up rules for the brigade. The rules were drafted and after consideration by the members the draft rules were submitted to the Town Council for approval.
This having been obtained the rules were formally adopted by the Brigade and printed copies were issued to each member.
About this time (early 1904 ) the Provost of the Burgh offered to finance at his own expense the attendance of two members of the Brigade for a weeks training at Glasgow Fire Brigade H Q. this offer was accepted.
The equipment at the inception of the Brigade consisted of a standpipe and several lengths of hose (probably leather) but a short time later a steam pump was obtained from Taymouth Castle.
The first petrol engine trailer (a Dennis 350/500 gpm) was provided by Perth & Kinross County Council about 1940 and this was to be towed by a Daimler Motor Car. The Motor Car was replaced about 1945 by an Austin 2 ton towing vehicle which continued in service until replaced by a Comer type B water tender.
Mr James McDonald served as Forman and Secretary of the Brigade until he was appointed Firemaster in the late 1930's and he continued in that post until Nationalisation of the Fire Service in 1941 when he was appointed section leader and Officer in Charge Aberfeldy. On the return of the Fire Service to Local Authority control in 1948 he continued to serve as Officer in Charge Aberfeldy until his retiral.
In 1948 James McDonald was awarded the British Empire Medal in King's Birthday Honours list for his long and honourable service. Mr McDonald was subsequently honoured by Aberfeldy Town Council at a Complimentary Dinner when many tributes were paid to his long and honourable service.
It is interesting that retained members of the Aberfeldy Brigade were called up for active service in the Armed Forces and served abroad during The Great War 1914/18, the second World War 1939/45 and during the Suez Crisis. They all returned safely.

(Dave Stewart OIC stn B6 Aberfeldy. 2001.)

 

 

 

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

 

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