Reference
FSD/PC
Title
Albums of press cuttings
Date free text
1943 to 1992
Production date
From: 1943 To: 1992
Scope and Content
INTRODUCTION
A series of scrapbooks collated by Bedfordshire Fire Service Headquarters staff and containing any newspaper cuttings relevant to the Brigade and its work. As the series is in volume form and all the volumes contain significant and valuable material, no part of it has been appraised or weeded. Each volume contains a number of similar types of stories and these include the following:-
* descriptions of fires and other incidents attended by the Brigade, from one line entries to double page spreads; from about 1965 road accidents became more commonplace;
* obituaries and news of marriages, retirements, promotions, transfers etc. of Brigade personnel, particularly senior personnel;
* opening of new fire stations and receipt of new equipment;
* short potted histories of the Brigade or, more usually, individual stations within it;
* articles highlighting the work of the Brigade or, more usually, individual stations within it;
* visits of HMI to Beds FS;
* industrial action taken or threatened by FS personnel;
* social functions involving FS personnel;
* fundraising events by FS personnel;
* fun events organised by FS personnel;
* FS personnel involvement in competitions etc., both national and within the Brigade;
* recruitment drives for both retained and full-time firemen;
* unusual/adverse weather conditions, e.g. drought, flood, gale etc.
Each volume contains a number of articles and reports which have been noted in the catalogue, the criteria for highlighting such entries is as follows:
* articles concerning senior FS personnel (typically ADOs and above);
* articles concerning major new pieces of equipment and/or new fire fighting techniques adopted by Beds FS, e.g. new fire engines, first use of foam to fight fires etc.;
* articles concerning FS property e.g. the opening of new fire stations;
* articles including photographs of personnel and/or equipment taken before about 1945 due to their relative rarity;
* general articles about the work of Beds FS or fire stations or crews within the Brigade;
* articles concerning the Beds FS operations, e.g. strikes, undermanning, recruitment of female fire fighters, budget cuts etc.;
* incidents where a photoghraph accompanies the text showing architectural and/or topographical detail;
* incidents dealt with in the FSD/RR series;
* fatal fires (not RTAs as these are more common and may not always involve the FS directly);
* large incidents such as train crashes, factory fires and countywide exercises;
* incidents at buildings of historic/architectural interest;
* incidents at buildings of local importance e.g. public houses, village halls, churches, scout huts, sports pavilions etc., whether or not photographs are included;
* significant incidents or reports including clear photographs involving trains, aircraft and buses (excluding most RTAs);
* other articles providing local colour or of a humerous nature.
Other issues are continually noted year by year in the scrapbooks, sometimes for a few years in succession, occasionally throughout the series and have not been especially noted in the catalogue. Such issues include:
* the dangers of stubble burning an other dangers caused by farmers;
* multiple pile ups on the M1 and the reckless driving responsible;
* fire saftey issues, notably children playing with matches;
* dangers of Guy Fawkes Night and of fireworks and bonfires generally, especially for thatched properties;
* hoax calls;
* arson by vandals and other fire raisers including by bombs.
GLOSSARY
ACFO - Assistant County Fire Officer
ADO - Assitant Divisional Officer
BA - Breathing Apparatus
BCC - Bedfordshire County Council
BEM - British Empire Medal
BR - British Rail
CEGB - Central Electricity Generating Board
CFO - County Fire Officer
CFPO - Chief fire Protection Officer
DCFO - Deputy County Fire Officer
DO - Divisional Officer
FBU - Fire Brigades Union
Fm - Fireman
Fwm - Firewoman
FS - Fire Service
FSHQ - Fire Service Headquarters
FSNBF - Fire Service National Benevolent Fund
FRS - Fire & Rescue Service
HMI - Her(His) Majesty's Inspectorate
LFm - Leading Fireman
LFwm - Leading Firewoman
NBBC - North Bedfordshire Borough Council
NIREX - Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive
OPH - Old People's Home
PE - Pump Escape (fire engine)
PFCO - Principal Fire Control Officer
PH - Public House
RFFU - Retained Fire Fighters Union
RTA - Road Traffic Accident
RUFC - Rugby Union Football Club
SBDC - South Bedfordshire District Council
SO - Station Officer
SubO - Sub Officer
TL - Turntable Ladder (fire engine)
UDC - Urban District Council
URC - United Reformed Church
WI - Women's Institute
WT - Water Tender (fire engine)
Exent
33
Level of description
series