Anniversary celebrations for fire station

The event was sparked by the discovery on eBay of a programme for the opening in 1953, and the anniversary celebrations mirrored some of the elements from that ceremony.

The Wellington station in Haybridge Road was “the centre” of Shropshire fire brigade when it was built in 1953 with satellite stations at Shifnal, Oakengates, Ironbridge, Newport and Albrighton, said Chief Fire Officer Rod Hammerton.

“The Queen had just been crowned, the Korean War ended, there was the first polio vaccine and the first ever colour TVs on sale,” he said.

Retired firefighter Des Carter, 93, of Rosthwaite, Wellington, joined the newly-formed Shropshire fire brigade in 1949 after serving in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

Based in Wellington, he recalled one of the major emergencies when a huge fire ripped through an aluminium foundry in Ironbridge which “melted bricks” and had national repercussions for firefighting.

“Two people died. It was in the early days and water was put on the fire which involved aluminium and made the fire worse and there were explosions. No-one understood then that sand should have been used,” said Des, who attended many chimney and house fires during his firefighting career.

“It was a different fire service then. They have the equipment and training now. It is completely different from our day when we took chances that we shouldn’t. We wore rubber boots, black leggings and heavy coats that took water.”

Celebrations to mark the anniversary included a technical display from the station’s animal rescue unit which carries out rescues across the county.

Station Officer Craig Jackson said they replicated the 1953 opening with a tour of the station and a display for visitors.

The Fire Brigade Society was also thanked for making the anniversary celebrations possible by finding the old programme.