National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
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Turn Out of the Cardiff Fire Brigade
The Fire Station in Westgate Street, Cardiff, prides itself on its 8 minute mobilisation - a record?
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Overview
Always a sight to behold – fire engines roaring out of a fire station in response to an alarm. In Westgate Street, Cardiff, Superintendent George Allen Bainbridge must have been proud that his men were able to mobilise 8 minutes after receiving an alarm call, especially as his boss, J A Wilson, Chief Constable and Director of Cardiff City Police (and Fire Service) was shooting the footage.
By 1937, the Central Fire Station in Westgate Street was surely at the forefront of fire-fighting for, as stated in the 43rd edition of the 'Cardiff Directory', published by the Western Mail & Echo Ltd, it had, amongst other resources, 6 fire engines, 2 “turntable fire escapes", 2 tenders and 3 ambulances and all these vehicles are listed as being motorised which was, at the time, notable. Superintendent Bainbridge was still in control of the station, although overall control of the service was in the hands of the Chief Constable who had at his disposal 1 Inspector, 3 Sergeants, 36 Constables, and 40 additional Constables who acted as auxiliary firemen.
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