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Fire Service: Difference between revisions
→Hoole Volunteer Fire Brigade
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The Hoole Voluntary Fire Brigade (HVFB) was formally established by a vote taken at the Hoole Local Board on 2nd April 1894. The Board also gave authority that the new fire brigade would be allowed the use of the Board’s equipment; namely the fire hose and other appliances – previously under the control of the Police. In addition, Chester Waterworks Company granted permission for the brigade to use their mains supply, should there be an outbreak of fire, on the condition that there should not be “''no extravagant use of water''”.
In May the first HVFB meeting was held. Only three men were present but this did not deter them from forming the service, and their efforts paid off as in November of the same year "''the whole of Hoole Fire Brigade''" joined The Station Company of Chester Volunteers, as it marched from the General Railway Station, over Hoole Bridge to [[All Saints Church]] for divine service. The Brigade was commanded by Captain R Cecil Davies and two Lieutenants, Charles Atkin and Dr Francis Butt.
[[File:RE_FS_4.jpg|400px|thumb|left|HVFB march with the Station Volunteers November 1894.]]
Hoole Volunteer Fire Brigade sensibly adopted the Rule Book of the Earl of Chester's Fire Brigade for their own use and for managing the brigade.
Also in May 1894 details of a subscription fund "''to defray the expenses of equipment etc''" were published in the Cheshire Observer showing that £25-14-6 had been raised. Established local names appeared on the list of contributors including the Davies family.
Public funding was complemented by several of the volunteers buying their own equipment, and additional equipment was borrowed or acquired from surplus stock held by the CVFB. The fire helmet pictured belonged to Harry Hughes, HVFB member and, as can be seen, came from surplus stock of the CVFB.
[[File:RE_FS_6.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Helmet.]]
A prize draw was also established by E.H Dawson, another HVFB member, which he ran from his newsagents in [[Faulkner Street]], to provide additional funds for the brigade.
===The role of Richard Cecil Davies (see: [[The Davies of Hoole]])===
R Cecil Davies was to be actively associated in practical fire brigade work for a period of 30 years. Initially he served with the Chester Volunteer Fire Brigade (“CVFB”) in the nominal role of fireman. In the records of the CVFB in 1886 entry No 154 details the admission of Richard Cecil Davies, aged 25, Seller Street, Chester, on the 4th February. This first period of service was to last only two years, as in the CVFB records he left the Brigade on the 21st February 1888 with
With two other colleagues from Hoole Urban District Council, [[Dr. Francis John Butt (1863 – 1933)]] and Charles Atkin, together with Joseph Owen, an experienced member of CVFB, they succeeded in forming the HVFB. Davies became the Chief Officer from its formation through to his retirement from the position in May 1914, when he was succeeded by Charles Atkin as Captain of the Brigade. Davies became the Honorary Treasurer to the Brigade and held this position until his death in 1917. He was highly regarded by members of the Brigade who on the marriage of Edith, his daughter, gave
Davies was a very strong advocate for the Hoole fire brigade, ensuring it received council and local community support. Through his involvement with the National Fire Brigades Union, the HVFB’s name and activities became recognized throughout the North-West Region.
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