IT WAS a proud day for the men of the Morris Motors’ fire brigade at Cowley.

They had won numerous trophies in competitions against other private fire brigades and were delighted to pose with them for the cameraman.

The photograph comes from Mary Biggs, of Horspath, whose husband Tony was a member of the brigade.

She writes: “Many happy times were spent when families took their children along to the inter-factories’ fire brigade competitions.” 

Mrs Biggs sent in the picture after reading the article on the city’s private fire brigades (Memory Lane, February 29).

At one time, 18 private brigades and their 120 trained firemen protected factories, hospitals and university buildings.

Most of the firemen were volunteers who had other jobs and 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.

A summary of how the Morris Motors’ brigade worked was included in a 1952 edition of Teamwork, the works’ magazine.

It read: “Chief Officer Charles Ham is rightly proud of the fine spirit which exists in the brigade in days when voluntary service does not have universal appeal.

“The amount of equipment to be kept in first-class condition is considerable. There are, for instance, four-and-a-half miles of hose in various parts of the factory and nearly 2,000 extinguishers, and six full-time maintenance men are needed for this job.

“Fire alarm boxes are situated all over the works. When one is used, klaxons sound in all shops and bells ring in the firemen’s homes at night as well as in the day. There is also an outside siren on the water tower. 

“There is a large plan of the works at the fire station, on which the numbered fire alarm boxes are clearly shown, and the system for identification of the call is ingenious.

“If, for example, the alarm was raised from No 32 box during the night, No 32 would be stamped four times automatically on a moving tape machine.

“The works police, who would be first on the scene at the control centre, would note this and press down switch No 32 on the control board, which lights up the corresponding number on the works map, so that firemen, on arrival, can see immediately where to go.”

Because firemen were required to live near the works, the time for a night turnout from their homes was just five to seven minutes.

Chief Officer Ham, his deputy, Mr F W Coppock, and four other officers were on a rota, one of them being available at any time of the day or night.

The Morris Motors’ brigade worked closely with the brigade at the adjoining Pressed Steel Company, both turning out to each other’s fires.