FIRE BRIGADE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21818, 22 November 1940, Page 7

FIRE BRIGADE

Annual Smoke Concert Service Honours Awarded Gold stars of the United Fire Brigades’ Association were presented to Fireman W. W. Best, who has served 25 years with the Timaru Fire Brigade, and to. Fireman B. Slow, of the Fairlie Volunteer Brigade, at the annual smoke concert which was held at the Timaru Fire Brigade Station. Superintendent E. W. McCann, who presided, extended a welcome to the Mayor (Mr w. G. Tweedy), the chairman of the Fire Board (Mr W. H. Hall), Mr R. L. Eames, a member of the Board, and to Captain W. Close, of the Fairlie Brigade, who was present with a number of visiting firemen. The large attendance of ex-firemen, he remarked, was a pleasing indication that they still maintained their interest in the work of the Brigade. Before calling on Mr Hall to present the service honours, the chairman paid a warm tribute to Fireman Best for his services to the brigade over a period of a quarter of a century. Men, he said, who gave such long and valuable service were undoubtedly actuated by the principle of serving the community. He also said that Fireman Slow had a fine record of service freely and voluntarily given in the interests of his town. He congratulated both the gold star recipients. In presenting the service honours, Mr Hall said that the Fire Board should recognise such long service and probably the question would be considered. Presentations were made as follows: ! reman W. W. Best, gold star (25 years’ service); Fireman A. Hooke, tivo years gold bar (27 years service); Fireman E. Fairbrother, two years bar (22 years service); Fireman B. Slow, gold star (25 years service). Firemen Best and Slow made suitable replies. The following toast list was honoured: Timaru Borough Council (exFireman C. G. Baker—The Mayor); Timaru Fire Board (Superintendent McCann—Mr W. H. Hall); Police (Dr. Moir—Constable Anderson); Ex-Fire-men (Mr R. L. Eames —Messrs C. Harrison, Baker and Thomson); Timaru Fire Brigade (ex-Fireman J. Norrie— Superintendent McCann); Visiting Firemen (Deputy Burtenshaw—Captain Close). . During the evening a musical programme was provided by Messrs F. Squires, R. Mclnnes, J. G. Young, L. Shine, G. Hutton, L. O'Donohue. L. Andrews, W. Cunningham, W. Mcphedran, J. Connors and A. Watkinson.