"OFFICE BEARERS FOR 2007."
Correspondance with the Historical Society should be addressed to:- Mr. Alan Harper. Secretary. The Northern Ireland Fire Services Historical Society was formed in 2002 with a view to promoting a knowledge and understanding into the historical organisation of past fire brigades in Northern Ireland. In so-doing to also record and preserve to the best of their ability, documents, records, photographs and miscellaneous items of equipment pertaining to that service.
The Society meet once a month. - Each meeting varying between different locations and fire stations. In the past they have visited:- Further visits have been arranged throughout the calendar year to: The Mayor of Lisburn Billy Bell along with Chief Fire Officer Colin Lammey and David Lennox a member of the Fire Services Historical Society at Lagan Valley Island on the occasion of the Conferment of the Freedom of the City of Lisburn 6th March 2004.
A meeting of the Society took place at The Kilbroney Vintage Vehicle Rally which was held on Saturday 4th September at which
over 1,000 vintage vehicles took part from all over the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The historical society set up their control unit which displayed inside and out, old photographs, of various brigades associated to Northern Ireland.
The Society Secretary Clive Hamilton relaxing in the shade at Kilbroney.
The Historical Society met on Wednesday 3rd November 04.
During the tour of the premises, Mr Brendon Campbell from the Conservation Department explained how documents are restored and
preserved for future generations.
On Thursday 17th February 2005 the Historical Society had the privilege of attending a civic dinner given by North Down Borough Council
at the Town Hall Bangor to celebrate 100 years of the Fire Service within Bangor. BBC Northern Ireland presented their live weather
forecast with Bangor Town Hall as the backdrop, while in the foreground members of the society were dressed in various
uniforms associated to the fire brigade.
The Mayor of North Down Alderman Mrs Valerie Kinghan welcomed past and present serving members of the Brigade to a reception and dinner in the Castle funtion rooms
to commemorate 100 years of service to the citizens of Bangor.
Ex Sub Officer Joe O'Loughlin from Belleek fire station (County Fermanagh) is a talented local historian, and one of his main interests is
recording and writing about aeroplane crashes that occurred during the second world war in Ireland. In one of his recent
publications "The Donegal Corridor" he mentioned the story of a B17 which had crashed onto the Cave Hill just outside Belfast
on 1st June 1944 killing all the young American air crew. The crash was attended by the Belfast Brigade.
Many years
later however a man who lived locally was examining the area of the crash site in 1966 whenever he found what appeared to be
a metal washer. Upon taking it home and having it cleaned it turned out to be a wedding ring with the name of its owner
(One of the dead crewmen) engraved inside. He sought out the American crewmans wife who had since re-married and
made the trip to America to re-unite her with the ring.
Now a film entitled "Closing the Ring" with the theme of the story of the ring running through it
has been made and Directed in Northern Ireland by Lord Richard Attenborough.
Tony Henderson from the Historical Society preparing to transport Dennis DZ6866
on a low loader to the plane crash scene for the film "Closing the Ring"
Tony's better side for the camera. (This could be his big break)
____A line up of extras playing the part of Firemen, Ambulance men, Police and G.I.'s_________________________ The fire crew prepare for action.
"And - Action"
_________________ The Belfast Blitz scene from the film._____________________________________________ Lord Richard Attenborough Directing on set.
On Wednesday 7th March 2007, Bill Broadhurst represented the Northern Ireland Fire Services Historical Society and addressed the Lisburn Historical Society
at the Lisburn Linen Museum to give a talk on "The History of the Lisburn Fire Brigade"
_________________ Bill Broadhurst (left) being welcomed by Finney O'Sullivan.___________________________ A section of the Lisburn Historical Society.
President...................................Colin Lammey
Vice.President.......................John McClelland
Secretary........................................Alan Harper
Chairperson....................................Louis Jones
Treasurer............................Murray Armstrong
Archivist....................................Bill Broadhurst
Health & Safety............................Roy Coulter
Education & Research........Brian McClintock
Events Organiser......................Clive Hamilton
Appliance & Equipment.........Tony Henderson
Northern Ireland Fire Services Historical Society.
Fire Brigade Headquarters
1 Seymour Street
Lisburn.
BT27 4SX
The Fire Station Aldergrove (Belfast International Airport)
Brown's Coachworks Lisburn (Fire engine bodywork builders)
The Main Fire Brigade Control Room. (Lisburn Headquarters)
The Fire Research Department. (University of Ulster Jordanstown)
The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. (Cultra Co. Down)
The Public Records Offices. (Balmoral Avenue Belfast)
On 6th March 2004, the Historical Society took part in a fire engine cavalcade through Lisburn City,
(Manning the 65 year old Dennis Fire engine DZ 6866) on the occasion of
the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade receiving the Freedom of the City of Lisburn.
On Saturday 29th May the Historical Society met at Newry fire station, where the Ex-Chief fire officer John McClelland
spoke on the history of the Newry Fire Brigade.
On a walk round tour of the station his talk was given aided by the many photographs, old uniforms and equipment associated to Newry
that align the corridors.
After the tour John was thanked on behalf of the Society and presented with the Tom Geraghty and Trevor Whitehead book entitled "The Dublin Fire Brigade"
A history of the brigade, the fires & the emergencies. as a small gift
and a reminder of the day.
at the Public Records Office for Northern Ireland, and were given
a talk and conducted tour by PRONI representative Miss Janet Hancock.
Janet outlined their system of how stored records were listed,
explaining how they could be retrieved for reading using the facilities provided.
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The old Bangor fire brigade hand cart from 1905 was also on display, and a hand siren was
operated sounding how the brigade were in years past turned out
to fire calls.
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The historical society have been involved helping and assisting in its making and we all look eagarly forward to its
general release in 2007.
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