GREY FIRE BRIGADE

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1941, Page 7

GREY FIRE BRIGADE

ANNUAL BANQUET. There was an attendance of about two hundred at the annual social of the Greymouth Fire Brigade on Saturday evening, a large number of guests, including the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham), members of the Fire Brigade, representatives of local bodies, members of the emergency Fire Brigade and members oi the Denniston, Granity, Kumara, Reefton and Cobden Brigades. Superintendent P. Deere presided. Apologies were received from Mr J. 'O’Brien, M.P., the United Fire Brigades Association, a number of Fire Brigades and many others, all ot whom extended hearty congratulations to Superintendent Deere on his fine service during the past fifty years. The ex-Chairman of the Fire Board, Mr W. H. Parfitt, presented the following members of the Brigade with service bars:—Messrs W. E. Pring (Gold Star, 25 years), Blocksage (40 years), Deputy-Superintend-ent White (29 years), G. Nelson (28 years), T. Mclntosh (23 years), W. Williams (17 years), W. Costello (14 years), P. C. Heaphy (11 years), Gray Scott (Overseas, 7 years), W. Kirk <3 years’ certificate). All the recipients replied, extending thanks for the honours conferred on them. Superintendent Deere, in presenting Mr Parfitt, who had been Chairman of the Fire Board for the past 25 years, with a fountain pen, paid a compliment to the manner in which Mr Parfitt had carried out his duties. Mr Parfitt returned thanks for the presentation, and detailed the progress of the Greymouth Fire Brigade since its inception. Deputy-Superintendent A. White made a presentation of a chiming clock to Superintendent P. Deere, oh behalf of the Brigade, eulogising nis performance during his fifty years with the Brigade. On behalf of the E.F.S., the Foreman, Mr T. McKay presented the Superintendent with ' a wallet. Superintendent Deere suitably replied. thanking the many speakers for their kind words and for their gifts. During the evening items were given by Messrs D. McGill, J. Duffy, Richardson, W. Payne, A. D. Coleman, J. Marley, L. Abbey and J. Allen. Mr J. Patterson was the accompanist. A. lengthy toast list occupied the evening