On Wednesday 2nd May 1951 the drill session nominal roll gives us a list of names of those serving at that time as firefighters of Ryde. Take a look at the list, are any of your relatives named? If so and you know any more about their time serving our town please contact us with any interesting information ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

In addition to Fireman Bessant who completed the watch log, the crew of the pump escape included Sub Officer Collis, Leading Fireman Williams, Fireman Lane, Fireman Williams, Fireman Dyer, Fireman Long and Fireman Drayton A. Crewing the main pump were Station Officer Potts, Leading Fireman Rees, Fireman Collins, Fireman Drayton C, Fireman Snellgrove, Fireman Cogger and Fireman Athey.

Most of the above named attended a fire caused by a faulty refrigerator two days later at ‘Irwin’s Cafe’ (address not supplied). The fire located in the rear room of the first floor of the premise was extinguished by crews using one line of main hose and a hose reel under the direction of Station Officer Potts. Interestingly at this point in the station’s history many entries in the log suggest that the original call was made by the Police activating the siren that sounded throughout the town to alert the members of the station.