PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE
Land Rover fire appliances are a big draw at community safety events. Bob Weir met up with John Cairns at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service West HQ in Hamilton to hear the latest about OGD 142M’s busy work schedule
This Series III is just one of a number of old fire appliances belonging to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Preservation Group (SFRPG). Once they are restored, the vehicles spend most of their weekends over the summer months promoting the ‘Safety At Home’ message. OGD 142M is one of the star attractions at these events and usually draws a healthy crowd.
John Cairns is secretary of the SFRPG and has been involved with the Fire brigade since 2003. His background is in health and safety, and the specialist role of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
PPE refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles or other garments designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection, he explained.
“Protective equipment may be worn for job-related occupational health and safety purposes, as well as for sports and other recreational activities. This includes items like pads, shields, masks or guards. PPE is designed to either eliminate employee exposure to hazards or reduce the risks to acceptable levels.”
John has also been involved with Scotland’s fire heritage movement since 2011.
“The heritage group was designing its new museum at Greenock on the Firth of Clyde and the committee needed some help putting together an exhibit of old fire-fighting equipment,” he explained. “Back then we were known as the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Preservation Group. This was originally set up in 1995, with the primary aim of restoring old firefighting appliances. As more of these appliances were restored and became roadworthy, the committee then formed the Living Museum. This is the collection of old appliances that we take to various events.”
On April 1, 2013, the various Scottish fire brigades were amalgamated into the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The following month the preservation group was restructured as a Registered Scottish Charity (SC043929), and renamed the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Heritage Trust (SFRSHT).
John said: “The organisation now covers the whole of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service area throughout the country, and the name better reflects the main purpose of the charity’s work. This includes the preservation and restoration of fire appliances, fire-fighting equipment and related fire service artefacts.
“The Living Museum is an important part of the group’s preservation through operation policy. The aim is to keep our appliances fit for the open road and the vehicles attend displays and shows throughout the year. The trust currently has nearly 30 different appliances either on the road or in various stages of
restoration. These cover the whole history of firefighting in Scotland, from the Victorian era up to the present day.
“The organisation also liaises with the Community Safety Department of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, to promote safety issues to the general public. The trust favours supporting events with a charitable cause, particularly the Fire Fighters Charity.”
The new heritage museum at Greenock has also been a resounding success and has even become a local tourist attraction.
“Most of the cruise ships visiting the west of Scotland dock at Greenock and the museum has become part of the tour itinerary,” said John. “The local Inverclyde Council is delighted with the response and the trust has already won several awards.”
Land Rover fire appliances were very popular in the 1960s and 70s, and OGD 142M is one of the few survivors.
John said: “Land Rovers played an important role in the history of Scottish firefighting, and the Light Pump OGD 142M (chassis no: 94100407B) is no exception. The Series III is equipped with a 2.25 petrol engine. It was originally ordered in 1974 by what was then Glasgow Fire Service, as a Road Rescue Unit (RRU). The bodywork was fitted by the Glasgow firm Bennett, and the Land Rover’s first posting was to Partick Fire Station not far from Glasgow city centre.
“Unfortunately the vehicle proved unsuitable for the job of RRU, as it was too heavy at the rear. This caused problems with the Land Rover’s steering and a tendency to dazzle oncoming traffic with the vehicle’s headlights. To overcome the problem the appliance was converted to a Light 4WD Pump, and sent to the Isle of Jura in the Inner Hebrides. It was stationed at Craighouse in the south of the island, where it was manned by volunteer firemen. Jura is quite a remote area, and the Land Rover had to cover the whole island. The appliance then did a stint on the nearby island of Colonsay. The island is only ten miles long and two miles wide, with a population of just over 100 people. The vehicle would have been the island’s only defence against fire.”
Unlike other organisations, fire services have always been keen to preserve their old vehicles. When the time came for OGD 142M to be stood down, there was never any question of sending it to auction.
“In 1998 the Land Rover went into preservation and was kept at East Kilbride fire station,” John recalls. “It was used regularly by the Community Fire Fighter based in Motherwell as a fund-raiser for the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund on station open days. The appliance was gifted to the Preservation Group in 2005. There was a bit of work to do in order to get the vehicle roadworthy, and the rebuilding of the rear ladder gantry and hose reel mounting platform was carried out by Harvey’s Garage in Renfrew during January 2006.”
The appliances certainly have their work cut out and a quick look at the Heritage Trust’s diary for September 2017 lists over 20 different venues ranging from Scotland’s Central Belt to Granton-on-spey in the Highlands.
“The Land Rover tends to spend most of its time in the area around Glasgow,” said John. “I was looking to further improve our already good relationship with the local community, so I asked the Trust’s committee whether I could borrow an appliance to attend more events. I don’t have an HGV licence, so they suggested I use OGD 142M.
“The first event I visited was the Grand Prix of the Sea. This is a major power boat event, which was held that year in Greenock. I entered the Land Rover in the Esplanade promotion. The event was a big success, and the appliance was subsequently entered into a major classic car event in Glasgow. The Land Rover also attended this year’s Defender Jam at Balquhidder up in the Highlands.”
Apart from spreading the word about the activities of the Heritage Group, John has also made some useful contacts.
He said: “We also have a very good relationship with the Army. Our chairman David Adam was with the Black Watch before he joined the Fire Service and we now do joint events with the military. This includes a gala concert in Greenock which is now in its fourth year.”
But like many old vehicles, the Series III is not immune to the occasional hiccup.
“I was taking the Land Rover to a local event recently when the fan belt broke,” John recalled. “Unfortunately I was driving on the motorway at the time, and was stranded on the hard shoulder for several hours. We eventually got the vehicle trailered back to the fire station, and the Land Rover was soon back on the road. The regular units of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are extremely helpful, although we have to be as self-sufficient as possible. Apart from this mishap the Series III is in pretty good shape, although the vehicle could do with a new speedo cable. The odometer is still only showing 23,000, so there is plenty of life in the old girl yet.”
“Land Rovers played an important role in the history of Scottish firefighting”