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Sawbridgeworth Fire Brigade - Other Fireman Profiles |
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Page last updated:
29/11/2021 |
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Walter H. Stacey 1870 - 1933
Born in
Sawbridgeworth and served in the brigade for just over 35 years from
its inception in September 1897, when he was present at the first committee
meeting in the Parish Council Room (presumably in the Church House, Church
Street), and was voted to serve on the committee on the 18th November 1902.
On the resignation of H. W. Lawrence he was appointed Second Officer. He worked at Forrest Stores in Knight Street just 'yards' from the
then new
fire station in Church Street and apparently resided in Barkers Lane (Station
Road(*). He
retired through ill health in October 1932 at the age of 62.
(*) New information indicates that Walter and his wife and 5 children lived
in Station Road in cottages opposite the junction of Station Road and Knight
Street where it joins the fairly steep hill. With appreciation to Trevor
Brown for this information. |
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Walter
Stacey's funeral procession in 1933, as seen from the flat above White's
Garage in London Road. The Gate public house is opposite, the then home and
wood/haulage business of Third Officer Harry Taylor.
In the picture
the undertaker is Henry Burton who had a building and Undertaker business in
Bell Street. |
| (Picture supplied
by John Dear) |
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Walter Tarling 1875 - 1962 |
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Born in Sawbridgeworth and apparently worked as a house decorator and
painter, perhaps with his Father who had the same profession. He was also
present at the inaugural committee meeting mentioned above and became a
member of that committee on the 23rdOctober 1900. (The attendance to Walter Tarling's
funeral is recorded in the 1962 Log Book for Wednesday 9th May 1962 at
12:30) |
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Henry William Lawrence
1858 - 1922 (Second Officer
- Brigade Service 1897 -
1907) |
Little information
is available on Mr. Lawrence but he was, it seems already acknowledged as
the right candidate for Second Officer at the inaugural committee meeting
and was prominent in his support for the brigade ongoing. His rank became
Lieutenant in June 1906 without explanation. He, along with Engineer Bryan
and Firemen Stacey, Tarling and Perry, were awarded the British Fire
Services Association 10 years long service medal in June 1907. In a letter
dated 11th November 1907 he resigned, the reason for which is not recorded.
With grateful acknowledgement to Graham Parish(*) of Sawbridgeworth
who has supplied this additional information on Henry Lawrence:
(*)
Henry William Lawrence was his great grandfather's older brother. "The
reason for his resignation from the fire brigade related to work. He moved
to Ponders End in 1907 to undertake the job of Inspector of Works during the
construction of the King George the V reservoir." |
| William (Billy)
George Prior 1888 - 1977 (NFS
Photo 1948) |
| Born in Bishop's
Stortford but lived with his family in Springhall Road, presumably until his
later employment at H A & D Taylor's maltings where he was employed as Engineer
in Charge and lived in one of the tied houses of that company in Lower Sheering
Road. A profile of 'Bill' appeared in the St. Mary's Church Parish News
(Date unknown) but made available by
Sawbridgeworth Local History Society in October 2020 - See
HERE . |
| Henry (Harry) L Taylor 1881 - 1952 (1935
Leyland Cub FK4 Photo) |
Was elected a new
member of the brigade on the 12th September 1905 but it appears he resigned
in June 1907 only to be reinstated as Fireman in that September to replace
Engineer W. Pleasance! It seems he continued in the brigade on-going and at
some stage reached 3rd Officer Status. The attendance records into the early
part of the Second World war show his continued attendance until January
1943 when he was absent ongoing, presumably through illness, until the
records show his "Discharge" in March that year.
Henry was better known as Harry and as some photographs indicate he was a
very portly man whose waist measurement was not believed when NFS uniforms
were ordered in the early 1940's. For many years he was the publican of The
Gate public house in London Road. Other records show that he later lived at
10 New Street, Sawbridgeworth with his wife Ellen, until his death. |
| William (Bill) Herbert Searle 1872 - 1969 (1935
Leyland Cub FK4 Photo) |
Bill was a Wheelwright by trade originally living with his family in
West Road, Sawbridgeworth. Later he and the family moved to Bridgefoot
House (Farm), Station Road where he carried on his business. His son
Jack(*) later took on the business and further developed it to a car hire
and vehicle repair business.
(*) Jack
Searle 1910 - 1994 was also a member of the brigade for
many years and is also in the photograph as above - he retired from the
brigade in 1960. |
| William (Bill)
White 1897 -
(1935
Leyland Cub FK4 Photo) |
| Bill was the
co-owner with his Brother Sidney (Sid) of White's Garage in London Road
(almost opposite The Gate Public House). However the business had been
started at 16 London Road, close to Springhall Road, by their father
Frederick as a cycle repair business. The London Road Garage itself was sold on,
probably in the 1970's, and later became a petrol station only. There is no
recorded date when Bill joined the brigade but he was certainly a member in
the 1920's and frequently the principal Driver of motorised appliances. He
was one of three Leading Firemen in the late 1940's and remained as such
until he left the brigade through ill health c.1958. Brother Sid (1898 -
1976) was a member during the war years only, as indicated by
the photograph Photo Gallery
March 1948 . |
| Peter William (Bill) Taylor
1909 - 1977 (Photo Gallery
March 1948) |
| Bill Taylor was
born at the King William IV public house in Vantorts Road where his father
and mother were the publicans. Again there is no record of when Bill joined
the brigade but he was a member as a young man in the 1920's. Bill was very
keen on drilling and was a frequent member of the teams that went away to
National Competitions as can be seen by photographs that include him. During
WWII Bill became a Leading Fireman - he was employed at Walter Lawrence
Joinery Works and continued there afterwards. In the 1950's Bill and his
wife took over The Gate Public House where they were the resident publicans
for several years during which time he resigned from being a member of the
fire brigade. |
| John (Jack) N.
Riches 1908 - 1988 (1935
Leyland Cub FK4 Photo) |
| Jack was one of the
sons of Charles J. Riches who ran the very successful Sawbridgeworth
Business of Charles Riches Ltd, The Iron Mongers in the The Square. It is
not clear when he joined the brigade but he was certainly a full member in
1935 as will be verified by the photograph in the link above. Jack, as he was always
known, learned the shoe repair business at Bishop's Stortford and eventually
set up on his own at 21 Bell Street Sawbridgeworth, living with his wife
Gwen (A firewoman during WWII (Photo Gallery
March 1948) on the premises. Jack did not miss many turnouts (or
drills for that matter) working and living so conveniently close to the
Church Street Fire
Station. Jack's younger brother Tom 1912 - 1965 was also a WWII fireman
- he is also in the photograph referred to. |
| Leonard (Len) Arthur Read
1910 - 1973 (Bedford Water
Tender photo fourth from right) |
| Len was another employee of
Walter Lawrence Joinery Works. It is known that during WWII he was seconded
to the East Coast (Norfolk or Suffolk) and was working on boats of some kind
- possibly Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB's). It is believed that is where his
fire service started. On his return to Sawbridgeworth he joined the brigade
and after the resignation of previous Leading Firemen - possibly William
(Bill) Taylor, he was promoted to Leading Fireman. On the resignation/retirement of
Frank Wright in 1967 he was promoted to Sub Officer in Charge. |
| Henry (Harry) Charles Read
1911 - 1978 (Photo Gallery
March 1948) |
| Harry too was employed at
Walter Lawrence Joinery Works and it is believed to have lived in Sayesbury
Road - Harry was a younger brother of Len (above). As with
those other brigade members employed by the Joinery Works he would usually
make attendances (incidents and drills) on a regular basis. It is not known
when Harry joined - possibly just prior to the outbreak of WWII but it would
seem he served throughout as his attendance is recorded in the
1940 attendance records and in the station
log book entries into 1962. |
| Harry Victor Akers 1912
- 1976 (Photo Gallery
March 1948) |
| Harry was, it seems born in
Bishop's Stortford but moved to Sawbridgeworth and worked for H. A. & D.
Taylor Maltsters in the main office. It is believed he joined the
brigade in the early stages of WWII and remained a member until his work
moved to Bury St. Edmunds, probably in the mid to late 1960's. |
| Jack Puncher
1912 - 1995 (Bedford Water
Tender photo second from right) |
| Jack lived on The Forebury
Estate and all of the time, as a member of the brigade, responded to
turnouts on foot. It is not known when Jack joined the brigade but probably
pre WWII - like several other members he was employed at Walter Lawrence
Joinery Works. Jack was a keen 'front line' fireman who was always keen to
be at the fire fighting end 'the branch-man' in dealing with
outbreaks. Jack introduced his son-in-law to the brigade - Peter Roberts -
standing next to Jack in the photograph. |
| Reginald (Reg.)
Wright 1913 - 1977 (1935
Leyland Cub FK4 Photo) |
| Reg. was the
younger brother of Frank Wright and joined the brigade while still living at
home (30 Bell Street) in 1929. He served throughout WWII taking
on the role of NFS Station 12B4X Dispatch Rider (the bike was NFS grey and
almost certainly a Matchless) - Reg. continued after the war until 1957. He was employed at H. A. & D. Taylors Malting as a Laboratory Analyst
on both the Malting and Malt Extract sides of the business. |
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