Beeston Fire Brigade Christmas Parties
A Christmas party for the families of Beeston Fire Brigade personnel in about 1951
The boy on the right of the picture wearing a jacket with
arms folded is John Gaynor, son of Len Gaynor, a Retained Fireman of 35 Stoney Street. The man immediately to the right of Santa is
Fireman Ted Bullard and the man on the far left (back to window) is Fireman Chadney of Stoney Street.
Fireman Bullard has been positively identified by Susan Wheat (née Stevenson) who appears on the photograph, standing on the left front row.
Her father, Alf Stevenson was a Retained Fireman and Frances, her mothor, also served as a Firewoman during the War, based at Elm House, now incorporated
into the row of shops next to the main entrance to Broadgate Park. She tells us that Frank Grey and Bill Tew are also in the photograph.
She believes that some firemen may be missing as they were in the panto that they put on for the kids. One tale was that they were called to a fire
and turned up in full costume!
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A similar Christmas party in about 1954
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... and in about 1955
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These annual events in that era were hosted by the men of the Beeston Fire Station and held in the Tarren Hut which was part of the Fire Station complex
at the top of Stoney Street, Beeston.
The photographs are amongst several photographs with associated memories shared by Roger Brailsford who, as a child, lived at one of the Fire Service houses at the top of
Stoney Street where his father, Bill Brailsford, served as a firemen. Roger, who now lives in Australia, appears with his mother Joan Brailsford in each of the smaller
pictures - in the 1954 photo he is towards the left with the paper hat and, in 1955, he is in the centre of the photograph.
Roger tells us that the Tarren Hut was similar to a Nissen Hut with a rounded body, but was lined inside and had external frosted (possibly wire reinforced) glass windows .The
exterior had tar paper over a flexible timber (ply?) sheet covering. As Nissen Huts were constructed in multiples of 6ft, this one was probably 24' or 30' long.
He recalls that, by 1957, the firemen had built a bar at the far end of the Tarren Hut called the "Blue Marlin" complete with an illuminated blue
marlin motif above the bar.
None of the other individuals shown are identified currently. Let us know if you recognise any of them.
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