South Essex firefighters have saved countless lives by bravely tackling blazes and rushing into buildings engulfed in flames over the years.
We are all used to a fire engine’s deafening siren, but we have drilled down into our photographic archives to bring you a selection of nostalgic firefighting-themed images.
Some of our snaps date back close to 100 years and it is clear to see the uniforms and fire engines have developed through the decades.
One of the images show Southend’s firemen from 1929, while there was also a fire brigade rally in the town back in 1982. It allowed revellers from far and wide to flock to Southend and see a variety of nostalgic engines.
Wartime wonder - a 1940s fire engine rolls into Southend
Here are just some of our favourite images from yesteryear.
Ready to save lives - members of the Leigh Fire Brigade
Keeping history alive - Roger Pickett, of the Essex Fire Museum, in a Dennis F12 engine from 1953
Lifesavers of yesteryear - a fire brigade rally in Southend saw crowds of revellers flocking to see a variety of nostalgic engines in September 1982
Read more:
- Eric Thompson was hero after bomb hit Southend in Second World War
- IN PICTURES: Tense moments at south Essex's local elections in years gone by
Classic engine - Ted Hilburn owned a haulage firm in Laindon and would enter his engine as a float in the heyday of Laindon carnival during the 1960s and '70s
Hadleigh’s heroes - by 1936, the Hadleigh Fire brigade were housed in their new station next to the Benfleet Urban District Council building
Burning passion - fire engine enthusiast Ken Moore in March 1971 after he bought an old fire engine and restored it for just £350
More recent times - we are more used to seeing members of the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service dressed in these uniforms nowadays
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