It was all smiles in Brigg as Andrew Percy MP and 98 year old ex-Firefighter Hugh Markham officially opened the new look Community Fire Station.
Guests gathered in the sunshine on Friday 4 November to celebrate the completion of work at Brigg Fire Station which has made improvements to the changing and showering facilities and freed up space for a brand new community classroom to be built alongside the exisiting engine bay.
The space will be opened up to local groups to use and has already held events such as CPD training for European Restart a Heart Day. Pictured left are (l-r) Baroness Redfern, North Lincs Councillor Nigel Sherwood and Chair of the Fire Authority Councillor John Briggs. They joined former Brigg firefighters and family and friends of the current crew in the new classroom and then enjoyed an RTC extrication demonstration before the ribbon cutting with Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy.
Watch Manager Dave Riggall was presented with a surprise cake to celebrate his 30 years with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service. Chief Fire Officer Dene Sanders paid tribute to Dave's commitment to the crew and to the wider community:
"Stations like Brigg are the soul of our Fire Service. The residents and businesses of Brigg owe a great debt to Dave and his crew who continue to provide a great service at the heart of this community. The new facility here will forge even closer links with local groups and allow us to share with them vital fire safety and health initiatives."
The current station was built in the mid 1960s and one man who remembers it well is Hugh Markham. He joined the station not long after World War II and served as a Sub-Officer and drove the engine until retiring in 1978. At the ripe old age of 98, Hugh enjoyed coming back to the station and sharing stories will the current crew and gathered guests. He is pictured left with Station Manager Martin Cawkwell who had organised much of the event.