AS today is the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee bank holiday the theme of this week’s nostaligia page doesn’t take do much thinking about.
Reader Ray Keeble submitted the first photograph taken during the Queen’s Coronation period. It shows Leighton Buzzard Fire Station decorated for the event by the personnel. Geoff Chapman, third from the left in the back row, designed and produced the display and painted the portrait of The Queen.
The personnel are, from the left, back row – Fm Cyril Linney, Fm Jeff Johnson, Fm Geoff Chapman, Fm Fred Janes, Fwm Bess Stead, Fm Herbrand Turney, Fm.Jack Gotzheim, Fm Malcolm Moore, Fm Harry Gurney, Fm Harold Brown, Fm Eric Linney.
Front row – Fm Dennis Roe, Fm Arthur Jemmett, Sub Officer John Thorpe, Fm Fred West, Leading Fm Charlie Linney.
Above the roof of the pump/escape bay can be seen the siren which called the retained members on duty for a fire during the day. At night all had “call bells” operated through the telephone system at their homes.
The first four from the left in the front row were full-time members of the brigade and worked ‘two on and two off’ in 24-hour shifts at the station. The remainder were retained members who came on duty when called.
The photograph, which it is believed was never published, is by Tom Dalton, an LBO photographer for many years.