Coventry Fire Brigade (inc. Hales Street Fire Station)

Civic coat-of-arms above the former Fire Station in Hales Street

Plans approved for new fire station in city centre

Although I got Hales Street and Trinity Street mixed up on the tram topic, I knew one of the streets had no trams, I really thought it was Hales Street because I thought even in the thirties the control office at the Fire Station would be able to operate the traffic lights at the bottom of the Burges, maybe you can correct me on the procedure in those days for the fire appliances? My memory is not what it used to be.

I was a fireman at Hales Street on Red Watch in the late 50's and on occasions was called on to do control room duties. The control room was manned by firewomen both day & night. In those days men and women were not allowed to work together on nights, consequently if one of the women was unable to work her shift the remaining woman would go to bed and two firemen would take over. One fireman would man the switchboard and the other would write down any incident that was reported to pass on to the Officer in charge noting the type of incident and its location. This was patched through from the Police System.

Not sure what occasion this was for but that looks like a Daimler so possibly a royal visit? Great view though looking up towards White Street and the Art School.

Yes, it's a Daimler, Neil, but it looks suspiciously like a hearse

I thought that Midland Red. Looks like it has a rack on the roof for flowers.

It's clearly the funeral procession of former fireman Frank Walduck, father of the late member of this forum Peter Walduck as described here: Fireman Frank Walduck, remembered by Peter Walduck

Searching for the Peeping Tom subject and found this instead From Coventry Telegraph courtesy of british newspaper archive

Yep I was a "long" time on white watch @ Central. Tom Michie S.O. was on PE 1 the 1st machine on the job @ Far Gosford St. I think I started about '63 & left in '66 & finished up here in (west) Oz. Great times & blokes & yes I was on nights when the fireplace in the rec. room went up! Tom Michie told the control room to call it & pull the bells down. A few of the names; Connerley, "the leprechaun", McQueen, Aldcroft, Stead, Gane, Mattock, Dilley, "Black" Jack Lumley, a few of the "Liverpool Lads" + others, & me, John Dearsley.

I was stationed at Hales Street Fire Station 58/60 on Red Watch. George Dipper was SO and Stan Mathews was Sub Officer. I remember the Butler brothers/Moose. SO Michie was still there at that time.

A look around Radford Road fire station

YES definitely. Whatever was the need to demolish them. Perhaps like the Hippodrome they had asbestos, otherwise an attractive set of houses beside Lady Herbert's Garden.

Love this one

Me too, Neil - looks like the Standard Vanguard is the most modern car in view