Establishment 2000

                                                                                                    Equipment                                                             Wholetime

                                                                                                    2 Water Tender Ladders                                     4 Station Officers
                                                                                                    1 Aerial Ladder Platform                                     4 Sub Officers
                                                                                                                                                                               8 Leading Firefighters
                                                                                                                                                                               46 Firefighters

The Wholetime Establishment is split over 4 watches of 1 Station Officer, 1 Sub Officer, 2 Leading Firefighters and 11 Firefighters (Red, White, Blue and Green) working a 2 days, 2 nights, 4 days off rota which gives an average of 40 hours per week. And 2 other firefighters somewhere.

Establishment 2017

The Wholetime Establishment is split over 5 watches of 1 Watch Manager, 2 Crew Managers and 7 Firefighters (Red, White, Blue, Green and Amber) working a 2 days, 2 nights, 4 days off rota which gives an average of 40 hours per week.

Stirling was upgraded from Wholetime/Retained to Wholetime in 1988.

OPENING OF THE RECONSTRUCTED GOOSECROFT

Successful Centralisation of Three Important Municipal Departments

<PHOTO> The Provost, Magistrates, and Councillors photographed at the opening of Stirling’s new Fire Station at Goosecroft last Thursday afternoon.
The spacious buildings, with their large grounds, which were some time ago acquired by the Town Council at Goosecroft, and which have now been renovated on the most modern and up-to-date lines at a cost of approximately £3,600 for the purpose of centralising the Fire Brigade and the cleansing and general works departments of the town, were formally declared open by Provost McAllister last Thursday.
The ceremony marked the conclusion of long drawn out negotiations on the subject, and the feeling that was generally expressed was that the new premises were in every way most fitting for the purposes that they are to serve, and that the efficiency of the benefiting departments will be greatly enhanced through their being rehoused at the new site.
On the most modern lines, the renovated buildings at first sight depict cleanliness and orderliness in which simplicity is the outstanding feature. The floors are of concrete and at the Fire Station, the two large sliding doors, one for each of the motors and tenders, give immediate access to the spacious yard which provides a wide and clear run to the roadway. Off the actual station itself, is situated a large room which is to be used as the firemen’s recreation room; and there will be someone in attendance there every evening. Through the day the fire horn will be used to summon the men. Among other, pieces of apparatus, the Fire Master demonstrated a traffic warning lamp which can be adjusted to throw an intermittent red light for the purpose of warning approaching traffic that the road is closed during the operations of the Brigade.
The Cleansing department and the entire works department are also to be concentrated at Goosecroft, and they are, of course, provided with the necessary stores, stables, and stations for their waggons, animals, appliances and materials. The Town Council are considering the erection of a number of houses on adjacent ground for firemen, a works storekeeper, and an attendant to supervise the cleansing department, so that each and every department will have continual attention in the near future.
The buildings, which are centrally heated, are in themselves a testimony of splendid workmanship and congratulations are due the contractors—all Stirling firms. They are as follows:- Building work, Messrs B. Reynolds & Sons; joiner work, W. Somers Ltd.; slater, R. Oswald; plumber work, Messrs Milne & Coy., and John Merrilees; concrete floors, Messrs A. Dick & Sons; electric fittings, Wm. Marshall; painter work, Ellery Bros.
Provost McAllister received the key with which to open the premises from Councillor Judge Wingate who declared that their meeting there that day marked the end of a long story, and, paradoxically, it began, a new chapter in the administrative affairs of Stirling Town Council. Many of them had heard it said that Goosecroft was a white elephant, but it was nothing of the kind. He was certain that it would prove of inestimable value to the three departments that were to be housed in the fine new buildings. They had only to their eyes back on the places that did service for the works and cleansing departments previously and then regard the transformation that had been effected at. Goosecroft to see how. much more efficiency and economy there would be in the future.
“Where there is no vision the people will perish,” quoted Judge Wingate. The Town Council had considered the acquisition of this ground and its buildings at Goosecroft for many years, and it was due to the foresight of Provost McAllister in his previous capacity as Dean of Guild that what had been contemplated was now an accomplished fact.
“It seems fitting,” he said addressing the Provost, “that the first year of your Provostship should he marked, among other things, by the opening of these buildings, and your colleagues in the Town Council think that some momento of the occasion should be presented to you.
“There were two persons,” added Judge Wingate, “who were well qualified in opening locks-one of these was a joiner and the other a burglar. (Laughter) Today, however, they had chosen the Provost to do the duty and he was sure that the door would be well and truly opened. (Applause.) .
Provost McAllister thanked Judge Wingate and the other members of the Council for the honour they had done him and for the kind remarks made about himself. He did not entirely agree, however, with what the Judge had said. He had only done his duty, as he saw it, in getting the Council to agree to take over the Goosecroft grounds, but, at the same time his colleagues had seen the advantage that such an acquisition would be to the town, and therefore they deserved as much credit as himself. He counted it a great honour and privilege to be there that day and to take part in the opening ceremony. He was sure that they would all agree after inspection that the committees, the officials, and the contractors, who had supervised the work of altering the old buildings deserved great credit for the splendid transformation they had made. (Applause.)

A GREAT SAVING

The centralisation of the three departments mentioned was going to result in a great saving to the town. There was accommodation for all the plant and materials that would be used, and check on the time of the employees and on the amount of the materials could be kept. That had been impossible before, the result being that at times there had been unavoidable overlapping and waste. The Fire Brigade had never previously had a. proper station, and in giving them the necessary and suitable accommodation in a central situation they were adding further to the brigade’s efficiency.

MONEY WELL SPENT

The total cost of the alterations, continued the Provost, was £3,600, but considering the value of the buildings as they stood now and the great service that the town was to derive from them, he was of the firm opinion that the money had been well and wisely spent. (Applause.) In opening these premises that day a climax had been reached, and it had effected what be would term “a finish” to a question that had caused a tremendous amount of work to the Council and officials.
The grounds at Goosecroft, proceeded Provost McAllister had municipal history attached to it. Forty six years ago the question had been first considered whether the ground should be taken over with a view to driving a road through and opening up that part of the town for development, and since then intermittent considerations had been going on. It had fallen to the present Town Council to conclude the negotiations, lay the road and reconstruct the buildings. At the same time credit had to go to their predecessors in office, and he pointed out that it had only been the revolution in transport, combined with the reasonable price which they had paid for the ground that had hastened their decision and enabled them to conclude the scheme. The new road itself was relieving the congestion of traffic in the main streets, and that end would be furthered by the decision of Magistrates to lay out the ground adjacent to their new buildings in Goosecroft as a station and car park for motor coaches and cars. On the east side the ground had remained untouched, but no doubt, in time, that would be dealt with to advantage. He took great pleasure in opening the doors of the Fire Station and declaring it and the other premises open. (Applause.)
Bailie McElfrish, proposing votes of thanks, said he was certain that the move they had made at Goosecroft would result in the better working of the municipality so far as these departments referred to were concerned. The spot they had selected was a splendid centre for the work it work it was proposed to do at Goosecroft, and he wished it every success. He was sure that before Provost McAllister had concluded his term of office, even the most sceptical would be convinced that the buildings were in just the correct position.
With his long experience of book-keeping and with his 30 years experience of costing, he would just refer to the Council's proposal to institute a costing system and say to the Treasurer and the others that the simpler the system the greater the success it would be.
In a word, Provost McAllister returned thanks to Bailie McElfrish.
After the opening ceremony, the company made a tour of the entire buildings, and refreshments were served in the Fire Station.
(Stirling Journal and Advertiser, Thursday, December 10, 1936. Page 4.)

PROVOST OPENS NEW FIRE STATION

<PHOTO> Seen above are members of the official party at the opening of Stirling’s new fire station. In the front row, from left to right, are:- Mr James D. Kennedy, County Clerk; Mrs Kelly; Mr Samuel D. Park, Firemaster; Provost Michael Kelly; ex-Provost James Thomson, Kirkintilloch, and Mr A. D. Wilson, H. M. Inspector of Fire Services.
Half an hour before the opening ceremony was due to take place for Stirling’s new fire station in Raploch Road yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon the firemen had to turnout to a chimney fire in nearby Huntly Crescent.
There was another turnout at the end of the ceremony, but this was simply a demonstration to the guests of what happens when a fire call is received.
Provost Michael Kelly, J.P., rang an alarm bell to signify that the station was in operation. The men, who were standing by their appliances, dashed into their machines, the huge automatic doors in front of the building were raised and the detachment were out of the station in a matter of seconds.
The visitors also saw a demonstration of fire rescue work in which a dummy was brought down from the top of the hose tower in a sling and in which a type of breathing apparatus which has just been introduced into this area was used by two firemen in smoke filled conditions. The apparatus is suitable for use by both part time and full time firemen and the two men giving this demonstration had only had 12 hours training.

SPECIAL FEATURES

The new fire station took two years to build and has cost £80,000. On the ground floor the accommodation includes a four bay appliance room and covered wash, a fully equipped watchroom, administrative offices, muster bay, locker room and ablutions. On the upper floor there are recreation and dining facilities and special rooms for lectures and meetings. Sleeping accommodation for 25 men is provided on the top floor.
Special features of the new station are the large covered wash at the rear of the appliance room where vehicles can be washed and cleaned undercover, and the facilities for drying hoses in all weathers by means of an aerofoil fan mounted at the top of the hose tower.
Ex-Provost James Thomson, Kirkintilloch, convener of the Central Fire Area Joint Committee, who presided at the opening ceremony, said there had been some difficulty in getting a suitable site for the new station, but after looking at several sites, the former Firemaster, Mr J. T. Davidson, decided that the one in Raploch Road was the most suitable.
In deciding on the site, they had to consider lay-out and the need to get vehicles out as speedily as possible. Stirling was a congested area and there was often difficulty in getting through the town because of the traffic.
Provost Kelly said it was most gratifying to be present at the opening of the new fire station. He recalled when the fire brigade had horse-drawn vehicles which operated from Orchard Place. It was run on a part-time basis at that time and in fact it was not until the beginning of the Second World War that there was a full-time staff in Stirling. He could assure everyone, however, that they had always been ably served by the part-time men.
The names of former Firemasters, including Firemasters Duff, Oswald and Sandy Mills, were also recalled by Provost Kelly, who said he was sure the tradition of service which had been handed down would be maintained in that wonderful new building.
Mr Samuel H. Park, Firemaster of the Central Fire Area, said the opening of the station marked the completion of the programme for replacing all the fire stations which were manned by full-time men. The joint committee would now turn their attention to the part-time stations and he felt it was an urgent problem that the stations for retained men should be replaced by new modern buildings.
Mr A. D. Wilson, H..M. Inspector of Fire Services, said the new station was the 103rd to he opened in Scotland land since the war.
On behalf of the contractors Mr Matthew Primrose made a presentation to Provost Kelly.
Mr Thomsom then presented Fire Brigade long service and good conduct medals to the following members of the Fire Brigade:-Leading Fireman R. Lockie, Alloa; Leading Fireman W. McGinigle, Milngavie; Fireman J. R. Lickrish, Alloa; Firewoman M. H. Chalmers, Falkirk; Firewoman E. J. Wilson, Falkirk; Watchroom Attendant A. Hamilton, Area Control, Kirkintilloch; Watchroom Attendant H. McDowall, Stirling.
Mr A. K. Davidson, C.B.E., J.P., Convener of Stirling County Council, proposed a vote of thanks.
(Stirling Journal and Advertiser, Thursday, May 13, 1965.)

If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.

MAIN INDEX                         1975 INDEX                         CENTRAL SCOTLAND INDEX                        SFRS EAST SDA STATIONS