Establishment 2000

Aberlour had a call sign of 43 in Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, this was changed to R43, the new National Call Sign, when the Control at Mounthooly closed on 8/11/2016.

Watch Manager Derek Thomson (Aberlour),  received his 30-year long service certificate. (16/11/2016)

Two New Fire Stations Opened 

<Photo> Guests watch a demonstration after the opening of Aberlour’s new fire station on Thursday.
<Photo> Col. T. R. Gordon Duff, Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, inspects members of Aberlour Fire Brigade in conjunction with the opening of the new fire station at Aberlour.
A big step forward in the plan by the North Eastern Fire Joint Board to provide 10 new fire stations in Banffshire was taken on Thursday when two new stations – at Aberlour and Keith – were opened.
Councillor Peter B. Cook, Kingswell, the board’s vice chairman, opened the stations which cost £36,250 between them.
Councillor Cook said the opening of Aberlour’s station was another step forward in providing a first class fire service in the North East.
The £16,500 was a lot to spend but a new station for Aberlour was overdue and delay always meant paying a higher price.
He thanked local employers for allowing men time off for firefighting duties. It was public spirited specially at a time of labour scarcity, S.E.T. and high taxation.
Provost Peter Taylor, Aberlour, said that the station was absolutely essential and would serve the needs of a large part of Speyside.
At both stations the firemen gave demonstrations with the new equipment.
(The Northern Scot, Saturday, September 28, 1968. Page 7)

NEW FIRE STATIONS OPENED AT KEITH AND ABERLOUR
Six Completed Out Of Ten Planned 

Banffshire’s two newest fire stations – at Keith and Aberlour – together costing £36,250, were officially declared open on Thursday, when both opening ceremonies were carried out by Aberdeen County Councillor Peter B. Cook, Kingswells, vice chairman of the North Eastern Fire Area Joint Board.
Declaring open the £19,750 Keith station, sited at Balloch Road, Mr Cook said there was no doubt that Keith had been badly needing a new fire station.
The old one, he understood, had consisted of buildings in the burgh yard, although this had no effect on the very efficient running of it.

EMPLOYERS PRAISED

At both the Aberlour and Keith ceremonies, Mr Cook paid tribute to the town’s firemen, and also praised employers who let firemen off their work when necessary.
“This is very public spirited action, particularly in these days of Selective Employment and other taxes, and at a time when there is scarcity of labour. We are very much indebted to them.”
The Keith station is the sixth of ten to be built in Banffshire, and its facilities, including storeroom, muster room, appliance, lecture room and kitchenette, are all on one level.
There had been, said Mr Cook 26 new stations built in the board’s area and there would soon be another one at Grantown-on-Spey.
In introducing Mr Cook. Provost J. Robb, Keith, said the people of the town welcomed the new station, the station, equipment and facilities all being an improvement on what had gone before. Police Judge Col. G. B. Kynoch of Keith, in proposing the vote of thanks, said the Board’s area covered more than 3½ thousand square miles embracing the counties of Banff, Aberdeen, Kincardine and Moray and Nairn.
In the past six years they had built new stations at Buckie, Dufftown, Portsoy, Tomintoul, Keith and Aberlour. And in the next four to five years, they planned to build stations at Aberchirder, Banff, Cullen and Mcduff.
After the opening, the Keith unit gave a demonstration of firefighting in the station yard, in which a dummy “body” was lowered from the hose tower to safety.
The Aberlour station cost £16,500, and Councillor Cook said this was a lot to spend. But a new station for Aberlour was overdue, and delay always meant paying a higher price. The opening of the station was another step forward in providing a first class fire service in the North East.
Provost Peter Taylor said the station was absolutely essential, and would serve the needs of a large part of Speyside.
After the ceremony the local firemen demonstrated the new equipment.
(Banffshire Journal, Tuesday, October 1, 1968. Page 4)

ABERLOUR

PRESENTATION – Sub Officer John Milton, who has resigned after 33 years’ service, was met at the new fire station by men of the Station 32, Aberlour and presented with a gold watch suitably inscribed from the “local lads”. It was handed over by Leading Sub Officer Gammack who succeeds Mr Milton. He also received a mounted axe handed over by Leading Fireman Dawson. A social evening followed, attended by wives and friends and also Provost and Mrs P. Taylor. Mrs Milton received a bouquet of flowers, handed to her by Fireman Alan McNab.
(The Northern Scot, Saturday, May 24, 1969. Page 8)

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