OXFORD once had numerous private fire brigades attached to factories, hospitals and university buildings.
They were manned by employees who would down tools and rush to the scene of a fire or other emergency as soon as the alarm sounded.
Their quick intervention often saved lives and property in the crucial minutes before the city fire brigade arrived.
The brigades also took part in regular public drill competitions which attracted large numbers of spectators.
We were reminded of the important role of private firefighters when reader David Brown sent in a picture of the Oxford University Press brigade celebrating its 100th anniversary in 1985 (Memory Lane, November 30).
Up to 18 private brigades are known to have existed in the city – all were members of the Oxford Private Fire Brigades’ Association.
The association was formed in 1913 at a smoking concert at the Clarendon Press Institute in Walton Street, co-chaired by Horace Hart, Controller of the University Press, and Captain Fred Symonds, of the Oxford Volunteer Fire Brigade.
It represented five brigades at that time – the University Press, Oxford University Museum, Brasenose and Magdalen Colleges and Nuneham House. An unsigned handwritten note of its history reads: “In 1914, World War No 1 came along and the association’s activities ceased till 1923 when Mr Bennett, secretary to the University Press Brigade, was called upon to help restart the association.
“This he did with such good results that at the outbreak of World War No 2, the association had grown to 18 brigades embodying some 120 trained firemen.
“This body of trained men formed a strong reserve to the Oxford Volunteer Fire Brigade from which it could call for assistance at all times when necessity arose.
From left, Jacqueline Evans, nine, Elaine Murphy, seven, and Jacqueline Cattanach, 10, learn about firefighting from MG firemen at a private fire brigades’ competition day at Cutteslowe Park in 1969
“This has happened on several occasions during the past 25 years when serious fires occurred in the city.”
Private fire brigades also existed at Morris Motors, Pressed Steel, Morris Radiators, Littlemore Hospital, New College, John Allen’s and MG Cars.
By the 1950s, however, many of them were beginning to disappear, mainly because of the difficulty of persuading workers to become firefighters.
At a meeting in 1958, Mr WHL Brogden, chief officer of the Pressed Steel brigade, regretted the trend and suggested training women.
He said: “They make good firefighters. It is scandalous that the colleges and university buildings should be left entirely to the mercy of the city brigade, good though they may be. It is the first two or three minutes of a fire that are all important and that is where a college brigade can be most useful. The men needn’t be young men – older men could be trained along with women.”
In 1985, when the University Press brigade celebrated its centenary, it was one of only two private brigades left in the city – the other was British Leyland.
Many readers will have memories of seeing the private brigades challenging each other at competitions, as these pictures from the Oxford Mail archives show.
- Any memories of private fire brigades to share with readers? Write and let me know.
REPORT FOR TRAINING
THE formation of the Oxford University Press fire brigade in 1885 was attributed to Mr J de la Mare, who collected the names of 40 fellow workers willing to train in firefighting.
Horace Hart, Controller of the Press, dispatched de la Mare to see the commander of the Oxford City brigade, Captain Green, to ask if he would help train the men.
Three years later, the Press fire crew joined 1,000 other firemen at a national parade of volunteer fire brigades in South Park, Oxford, at the foot of Headington Hill.
D Foyle and J Allan, of the Morris Radiators’ fire brigade, spray a target during a competition in Cowley in 1961
One of the longest serving members of the brigade was Aubrey Beesley, of Belvedere Road, Oxford, a supervisor in the bookbindery. He worked for the brigade for 52 years, 30 of them as chief officer.
It celebrated its centenary in 1985 with a dinner, an exhibition of firefighting equipment and trophies and a competition day at Jordan Hill, North Oxford.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here