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.

“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.