AD1082/3

Scrapbook of press-cuttings concerning Bedford Volunteer Fire Brigade.

1896-1910

From: 1896 To: 1910

including reports of small fires as well as the following [note: an asterisk (*) indicates accompanying photographs and number in square brackets the page containing the material]: - latter part of a very detailed report of Annual Dinner (1894) [1]; - destruction by fire of barn belonging to Rev.W.H.Jackson, Stagsden (1894) [2]; - detailed report of fire at the premises of Alfred Mann, confectioner, in Brace Street, Bedford (1895) [3]; - very detailed report of second International Tournament of the Fire Service and the victory by the Bedford Volunteer Brigade in the manual engine contest (1896) [4]; - Annual Dinner at Swan Hotel, Bedford (1896) [9]; - detailed report of a fire at College Farm, Clapham Park Estate (1898) [10]; - fire in the luggage van of St.Pancras to Bedford express in Bedford Station (1898) [11]; - very detailed report of "disastrous fire" at Tempsford Hall (1898) [12-14]; - report of Annual Dinner at Mr.Roff's Rooms, High Street, Bedford (1898) [14-15]; - order of a smaller steam fire engine (c.1900) [15]; - report of Brigade Annual General Meeting (1901) [15]; - fire at Bedford Golf Club pavilion (1901) [16]* ; - hay rick fire at Love Lane, by Newnham walls, Bedford, including group photograph of Captain Negus, fire crew and large steamer engine with the caption "time to make up" (1901) [16]*; - fire at Bedford County School (1901) [17]; - photograph of aftermath of a fire in Kempstone [sic] (1901) [17]*; - fire at 38 Prebend Street, Bedford (1901) [17]; - fire at Polhill-Turner estate cottages at Renhold (1901) [17]*; - detailed report of reception of new, lighter, steamer fire engine, the "Victoria" (1901) [18-20]*; - victory of Brigade in an open competition with the fire escape (1901) [20]; - polo match given by the Brigade and exhibiting of new "Victoria" steamer (1901) [20]; - report of National Union of Fire Brigades third annual encampment (1901) [20-21]; - report of Brigade Championships, including photographs of the winners, Plumbe (individual drill), Davey (junior individual drill) and Grice, Davey, Randall and Hopkins (four man drill on escape) (1901) [21]*; - detailed report, with cast lists, of staging of tableaux-vivants at Corn Exchange in aid of Brigade funds (1902) [22-23]; - success of Brigade at South Midland District Competitions (1902) [23]; - Brigade winning of national challenge shield for escape drill (1902) [23]; - return of successful Brigade with an enthusiastically attended procession through the town (1902) [24]*; - haystack fire in a field on Kimbolton Road, "just opposite the footpath to Putnoe" (1902) [25]; - report of Annual Brigade Competition (1902) [25]*; - victory of Potton Brigade in county six man drill competition (1902) [26]; - report of "disastrous fire" at Westby & Co., summer-house and arbour makers, Bedford Road, Kempston (1902) [26]*; - detailed report of fire at Royal Oak PH, Chellington (Carlton) (photograph of burnt out premises probably also shows the owner, Thomas Wooding)(1902) [27]*; - fire in the billiard room of Swan Hotel, Bedford (1902) [27]; - report of Annual General Meeting of the Brigade (1903) [28]; - small fire in the kitchen of Swan Hotel, Bedford (1903) [28]; - billiard match between Brigade (winners) and Kempston Conservative Club (1903) [28]; - detailed report of Annual Dinner at Swan Hotel Bedford (1903) [29-30]; - increased Borough subscription to Brigade (1903) [31]; - members of the Brigade's attendance at ambulance lectures [31]; - annual drill meeting and fete of South Midland District of National Fire Brigades Union at Luton (1903) [31]; - social outing for Brigade members to Caesar's Camp, Sandy (home of Pym family) (1903) [31]; - report of "disastrous fire" at Whitbread cottages, Cotton End (1903) [32]*; - report of Annual Brigade Competitions (1903) [32]; - destruction of a stackyard by fire at Meadow Farm, Kempston (1903) [33]; - very detailed report of Bedford Fire Brigade Bazaar, the first time such a method of fund raising had been employed by the Brigade, and opened by Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, photographs show procession [see AD 1082/6/24] (1903) [33-37]*; - fire at Miss Wynter's grocery store, High Street, Kempston (1903) [37]; - fire at Britannia Iron Works, Bedford (1903) [38]; - detailed report of destruction by fire of Half Moon Inn, High Street, Kempston (1904) [38-39]*; - report of Annual Dinner at the Central Restaurant, Bedford (1904) [40]; - fire in two barns, part of the Biddenham Estate, at Bedford Ford End (1904) [41]*; - detailed report of first Fire Brigade Church Parade at St.Paul's Bedford (1904) [42]; - detailed report of destruction by fire of L.& N.W.Railway Company station at Willington (1904) [43]; - "alarming gas explosion" at 40a Castle Road, Bedford (1904) [44]; - report of Annual Brigade Competitions, with photograph of Walter Mead, who won three trophies (1904) [45]*; - detailed report of fire at Windsor Terrace, Goldington Road, Bedford (1904) [46]*; - fire at 39 Muswell Road, Southend, Bedford (1905) [47]; - detailed report of Annual Dinner at the Central Restaurant, High Street, Bedford (1905) [48-49]; - fire at Corporation stables by the Fair Ground, Bedford (1905) [50]; - report of unsuccessful Brigade participation in National Fire Brigades' Union competitions at the annual camp at Crystal Palace [London] (1905) [50]; - fire at Tom Coombs' establishment, The Arcade, Bedford (1905) [51]; - photograph of Fire Brigade pony and trap and lightweight steamer, with five unnamed men in a field at Longholme Lakes, Bedford, Fireman Mead driving and Mr.Rubythorn, left, who loaned horses to the Brigade (1905) [51]*; - report of Brigade competitions (1905) [52]; - report of fire at Paine & Co., on the bank of the Brook, St.Neot's [Hunts] and serious consequences had the wind been in a different direction; the report begins "Early yesterday morning, St.Neot's local authorities had a great object lesson on their incapacity to deal with a serious outbreak of fire." (1905) [52]; - detailed report of Annual Dinner at the Central Restaurant (1906) [55]; - report of Bedford Brigade versus Sandy Brigade at billiards (won) and whist (drawn) (1906) [56]; - destruction by fire of a cottage in Cople (1906) [57]*; - haystack fire in a field on Kimbolton Road, near Gipsy Lane, Bedford (1906) [57]*; - Brigade's victory in the Escape Competition of the South Midland District at St.Albans (1906) [57]; - detailed report of Brigade's victory in the Escape Competition at the National Fire Brigades' Union event at Shalford Park, Guildford [Surrey] (1906) [58]; - destruction by fire of two cottages at River Lane, London End Milton Ernest (1906) [58]*; - report of presentation to Captain Hill of the Brigade of a medal as a "Membre d'Honneur" at the 25th anniversary of "Federation des Sapeurs Pompiers Francais" (1906) [59]; - report of arson by a tramp of six stacks of new wheat on Harrowden Hill, Cotton End (1906) [59]; - very detailed report of fire at Bromham church causing considerable damage to the tower and part of the roof; includes speculation that the fire was started accidentally by bellringers,the damage being costed at about 1,000 (1906) [59-60]*; - detailed report of Brigade competitions in Russell Park, Bedford (1906) [61]; - letter to the newspaper criticising plans for a new water scheme for Bedford (1906) [62]; - detailed report of Annual Dinner at the Central Restaurant, Bedford (1907) [62-63]; - report of successful Brigade trial of the new water supply in Kempston (1907) [64]; - fire at the premises of E.Lewis, watchmaker, 10 Harpur Street, Bedford (1907) [64]; - election of Captain Hill of the Brigade as new honorary secretary of National Fire Brigades' Union (1907) [65]; - very detailed report of public ceremony marking the arrival of a second lightweight steamer fire engine "Alexandra", for the Brigade (1907) [65-67]*; - report of Brigade success at South Midland District competitions at Uxbridge [Middx] (1907) [67]; - very detailed report of annual Brigade competitions in Russell Park (1907) [67]; - article, with photograph, from National Fire Brigades' Union journal, on the new NFBU honorary general secretary, Captain Hill of Bedford Volunteer Brigade (1907) [68]*; - report by Brigade on fire appliances at Bedford Workhouse suggesting, inter alia, that male and female staff be trained to manipulate the appliances (1907) [70] ; - detailed report of Fireman William E.Perdue, of Mill Street, facing charges of embezzling small sums of money from the Brigade and being committed for trial (1907) [71]; - report of proceedings to eject William Perdue from his tenancy of Fire Brigade quarters following his dismissal from the Brigade, before his trial (1907) [71]; - detailed report of trial of William Perdue, verdict - not guilty (1908) [72-73]; - fire in the premises of Henry Burt, printer, in Mill Street, Bedford (1908) [73]; - detailed report of the Annual Dinner at the Central Restaurant (1908) [74-76]; - report of Shefford Brigade under Captain Negus (ex-Bedford) being the only Brigade in the county to win a national competition that year (1908) [76]; - appointment of J.T.Ashwell as resident fireman and caretaker of Mill Street Fire Station (1908) [76]; - fire at a cottage in Elstow, caused by sparks from a traction engine igniting the thatch (1908) [76-77]*; - small fire at Davey's newspaper shop at 6 Gwyn Street, Bedford (1908) [77]; - small fire at Aaron Ives' fried fish shop in Great Butts Street, Bedford (1908) [77]; - detailed report of a fire at 6 St.Paul's Square, Bedford (1908) [77-78]*; - detailed reports of Bedford Brigade's success in winning the a new combined drill with steamer and life saving at National Fire Brigades' Union annual camp at Scarborough [Yorks] (1908) [78-79]*; - detailed report of the annual Brigade competitions in Russell Park, Bedford (1908) [79-80]; - fire at 58 Clapham Road, Bedford, due to children playing with a candle (1908) [80]; - detailed report of "unique cinematograph exhibition" at Corn Exchange, Bedford, organised by Brigade on behalf of Widows' & Orphans' Fund of NFBU (1909) [81]; - fire in a chemical laboratory at Bedford Modern School (1909) [82]; - detailed report of Annual Dinner at Central Restaurant (1909) [82-84]; - report of Brigade versus Goldington Reading & Recreation Room at billiards (won) and whist (also won) (1909) [84]; - report on the necessity for street fire alarms and Bedford Town Council's inaction on the matter (1909) [84]; - detailed report of victory by Brigade in the escape drill at South Midland District competitions at Harrow [Middx] (1909) [85-86]; - detailed report of Brigade's successful participation in NFBU competitions at Tonbridge Camp [Kent] (1909) [86-87]; - fire at the newly opened Rink, The Embankment, Bedford (1909) [87]; - report of fire practice at Howbury Hall (1909) [87-88]; - report of funeral of previous member of Brigade, Walter W.Lightfoot (aged 32) (1909) [88]; - report of emigration of Brigade member R.R.Bithrey to Canada (1910) [88]; - report of Annual Dinner at Central Restaurant (1910) [88-89]; - detailed report of fire "of a disastrous nature" at leather dressing factory belonging to R.B.Saunders, College Street, Kempston (1910) [90]*; - reports of Brigade versus Goldington Reading & Recreation Room at billiards (won) and whist (also won) (1910) [90]; - very detailed report of annual Brigade competitions at Russell Park (1910) [91-92]*; - scorecard of Fire Brigade (158 all out) versus Goldington Reading & Recreation Room (187/8) at Russell Park (1910) [92]; - Brigade victory over Goldington Reading & Recreation room at swimming, Newnham Baths (1910) [92]; - fire at London & Lancashire Fire Office, St.Paul's Square, Bedford! (1910) [93]; - fire at F.E.Taylor & Co., printers and paper bag manufacturers, Prebend Street, Bedford (1910) [93]; - reports of Brigade versus Goldington Reading & Recreation Room at billiards (won) and whist (lost) (1911) [93]; - report of Annual Dinner at Central Restaurant, Bedford (1911) [94]; - report of a "huge conflagration" beginning in workshops and storerooms at the rear of Frederic Gale's premises in Mill Street, Bedford (1911) [95]; - report of victory of Brigade in escape drill at South Midland District competitions at Dunstable (1911) [96]; - explosion and fire in car driven by Lady St.John of Bletsoe in Goldington Road, Bedford (1911) [96]*.

item

Jackson, W H,
Mann, Alfred,
Roff,
Bedford Golf Club,
Negus,
Polhill-Turner,
National Fire Brigades Union,
Plumbe, Charles,
Davey,
Grice,
Randall,
Hopkins,
Westby & Company,
R.B.Sanders Ltd.,
Wooding, Thomas,
Kempston Conservative Club,
Pym,
Whitbread,
Marlborough, Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of,
Marlborough, Consuela Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of,
Wynter,
London & North Western Railway Company,
Mead, Walter N.,
Coombs, Tom,
Rubythorn,
Paine & Company Limited,
Hill, Augustus,
Federation des Sapeurs Pompiers Francais,
Lewis, E.,
Perdue, William E.,
Burt, Henry,
Negus,
Ashwell, John Thomas,
Ives, Aaron,
Goldington Reading & Recreation Room,
Lightfoot, Walter W.,
Bithrey, R.R.,
London & Lancashire Fire Insurance Company,
E.F.Taylor & Company,
Gale, Frederic,
St.John, Ethel Susan, Baroness,
Lutley, Ethel Susan

local fire brigades, fire brigade incidents, fire brigades personnel, fire appliances, fire stations, photographs, named portraits, unidentified portraits, Chellington Royal Oak, Bedford Swan Hotel, Bedford Central Restaurant, ironfounder, footpaths, Clapham College Farm, Kempston Rural Meadows Farm, Bedford Borough, fetes, clergy names index, National Fire Brigades Union, trains, Willington station, Bedford Midland station, London & North Western Railway Company, Bedford County School, estate housing, drama productions, Westby & Company, R.B.Sanders & Company, Conservative, ambulances, grocers, Kempston Half Moon, Paine & Company Limited, billiards, whist drives, cricket, specific emigration, French, arson, vagrancy, water provision, watchmaker, public parks, private parks, Poor Law Union Workhouses, embezzlement, printers, traction engines, newsagents, specific fish & chip shops, general children, cinema, national charities, Bedford Modern School, reading rooms, Bedford Corporation, leather companies, swimming, London & Lancashire Fire Insurance Company, E F Taylor & Co Ltd, paper maker, BEDFORD, GOLDINGTON, KEMPSTON, EASTCOTTS, CLAPHAM, BIDDENHAM, STAGSDEN, BROMHAM, COPLE, Bedford Brace Street, St. Paul Bedford, Bedford High Street, Bedford Love Lane, Newnham, Bedford Prebend Street, RENHOLD, Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford Kimbolton Road, POTTON, SANDY, St.Neots, Kempston Bedford Road, Kempston College Street, Kempston High Street, LUTON, Bedford Embankment, Bedford The Arcade, Sandy Caesar's Camp, Cotton End, Bedford Britannia Ironworks, Bedford Ford End, Bedford Castle Road, WILLINGTON, Bedford Goldington Road, Goldington Road Windsor Terrace, Bedford, Bedford Muswell Road, Bedford Southend, Bedford Fair Ground, Longholme, Bedford Longholme Lakes, Bedford Gipsy Lane, Bedford Kimbolton Road, St.Albans, Guildford, Guildford Shalford Park, Milton Ernest River Lane, MILTON ERNEST, Milton Ernest London End, Cotton End Harrowden Hill, Bedford Russell Park, Bedford Harpur Street, Uxbridge, SHEFFORD, ELSTOW, Bedford Gwyn Street, Bedford Great Butt Street, Bedford St.Paul's Square, Scarborough, Bedford Clapham Road, Harrow, Tonbridge, Tonbridge Camp, Renhold Howbury Hall, Canada, Newnham Baths, DUNSTABLE, Bedford Goldington Road, Embankment Rink, Bedford