Taken from the 1972 Bonnet Guild Festival Guide

When did YOU last dial 999 for the Fire Brigade or ring the fire alarm in Stewarton? Fortunately for most of us the answer is "never," but as the local firemen are called out around twenty times a year, someone somewhere must dial the number or press the button.
Although Stewarton Fire Brigade has been in existence for about fifty years, it is a service that has received scant publicity. Moreover any publicity it did get in the past was invariably adverse and derogatory as, for some reason, local firemen were often figures of ridicule in the town. Many tales were told concerning their alleged exploits and sayings, most of which were probably a mixture of fact and fiction. Since the new Fire Station was built and new equipment provided, they have lately managed to lose this mirth-provoking image and the service is now taken more seriously in the community. However, when I visited the new H.Q. in Vennel Street one Thursday night recently, I discovered that there are still a few 'characters' at the fire station.
 

MODERN
 

For many years the town' s fire engine was housed in the corner of a local garage and later in an ex-army nissen hut at Kilwinning Road. On January 17th, 1962, the late Provost Walter Sime opened Stewarton's first real fire station. It was on a site forenent the old quoiting ground where tenement buildings, known locally as "Horlies Lawn/ once stood, and the new station is modern-looking from the exterior with equipment and amenities to match inside. On entering the building I was surprised to discover that, instead of the austerity I had anticipated, it was extremely well-appointed, and in addition to the bright and cheerful decor the whole place was spotlessly clean.

AU the firemen are, of course, part-timers who meet every Thursday evening for fire practice and general cleaning duties and they also report on certain Sundays for exercises and hydrant examination.
The fireman-in-charge is Sub-Officer Robert Ballantyne who has been in the service for sixteen years. When he greeted me cordially in his tidy office, Mr. Ballantyne, better known locally as Rab, was smartly dressed in double-breasted uniform, collar and tie, and cap. He told me that the station is divided into Office, Muster Room, kitchen, toilets and Engine Room. Behind the station is a large drill ground where the firemen train.

FIRE-FIGHTING APPLIANCES

I was then conducted round the premises by Subofficer Ballantyne and Leading Fireman Hugh Sharp who has been a fireman for nine years. In the Muster Room I noticed that all the waders, fire-fighting tunics, helmets, axes and gas masks were laid out or hung neatly against one wall.
Next door in the large Engine Room with its white tiled walls and Rangers blue ceiling, the TK Bedford Fire Engine (Water Trailer Type) stood, all red and shiny, facing the double glass doors like some mighty mechanised athlete on its mark awaiting the starter's gun. Hugh Sharp opened up all the various compartments which concealed a multitude of fire-fighting appliances. These included long lengths of hose and hose reels, hose connectors, a foam making branch, several large axes, foam extinguishers, warning lamps, ropes and tarpaulins, luminous jackets and a 35 foot ladder. I was shown two water pumps capable of pumping water at the rate of from 150 to 500 gallons per minute, and in the centre a water tank that holds 400 gallons. Inside the cab, Hugh pointed out, with some pride I think, the short wave radio for inter-communication with Area Headquarters at Ayr and he said that they were being provided with breathing apparatus early in 1973. Finally of course the traditional firebell.
 

HUMOROUS YARNS
 

live of the crew are able to drive the Engine and one of them is Stewarton's longestserving fireman, Davie Rosbotham, with 22 years service; last year he received a twenty year's good conduct medal. In Parliamo Stewarton, *Davock works wi'the toun/ in other words he is employed by the Town Council and is a Burgh Foreman.
Davie has many humorous yarns to relate about his years in the fire service, like the night the Stewarton Brigade was called out to a fire at Newmilns. "We had the auld engine and we were lowing the wee pump,' he said. *When we went o'er the level crossing at Shanks's Potteries, the tow bar broke. We all got out to repair it but it broke aff again at Black's Bar. Eventually we had to leave wee Jock Barclay behind in charge while the rest of us carried on to Newmilns.' On another occasion there was a chimney fire at a house in Standalane. Said Davie: The chimney stack was in such a bad state that it might have collapsed if we had gone up; so we went into the hoose and put the hose up the him. It wisnae according to the book but the fire went out just the same.'

There are nine firemen with a total of nearly 100 years service between them. In addition to those already mentioned, the firemen are Drew Hamilton and Tarn Orr (II years each) Rab Hamilton (9) Bill Baird and Tom Graham (6 each) and Freddy Slaughter (3).

Drew Hamilton told me: *Ask Jock Barclay about the time we played a hose on a roof on a pitch dark night. It was so dark, we didnae ken that the roof had collapsed and we were hosing through a hole.'

One of Stewarton's Characters' — and there are not so many of them left nowadays - is Tarn Orr who tells a story in his own inimitable, pawky style. 1 was at Kilmarnock for training once,' he said, 'and I had to put on breathing apparatus and then pull a pail of bricks up and doon on a pulley. Then I had to crawl through a practice tunnel, 'rescue' a dummy, and crawl back. Somebody says: 'Give it the kiss of life .' Says Ah: It's no' the dummy that's needin' the kiss o' life — it's me!'

The worst fire that the present brigade members can remember took place at R. Mackie's factory in Holm Street on a cold winter's night in January, 1961. It was so cold that night,' said Rab Ballantyne, 'that the hoses were standing up on end with the frost. Another bad fire was the one at the Cooperage some years ago.'

RACE
 

Back in the old days, great rivalry used to exist between the various Fire Brigades and it is said that they sometimes raced each other to the scene of the fire. This rivalry became so intense that at one particular fire at Dunlop Tennis Club, I'm told that the members of Kilmamock and Stewarton Fire Brigades ended up throwing slates at one another. Since 1948, Stewarton Fire Brigade has come under the jurisdiction of the County instead of the Burgh and the system has changed for the better. There is full co-operation now and when Stewarton is called out, the breathing apparatus van automatically turns out from Kilmamock. The South Western Area is controlled from Ayr where Divisional Officer Ballantyne (no relation) is responsible for the Stewarton district and the Firemaster is Mr. R. J. Knowiton.

I asked Mr. Knowiton about the Fire Brigade in Stewarton. "The firemen of Stewarton dedicate their spare time to the service of the community and are available within a few minutes to render assistance to those in need,' he stated. They are responsible for fires in the Burgh and a large country area and can be called to

assist neighbouring fire stations in the event of large files. Over the years these men have built up a fine record of fire-fighting and have attended many notable incidents. During their working week they have ordinary jobs, but with the cooperation of their employers, they drop everything and run when the siren sounds.' Mr. Knowiton concluded: "This voluntary service to the community is most valuable and provides an efficient service at low cost.'
 

WORTHY MEN
 

Since the first fire brigade was formed in the twenties, many worthy men have served the town in the cause of fire-fighting and prevention. Men like Jimmy Winning, George Harvey, Tom Paton, Ernest Turnbull, Jimmy Ballantyne (Rab's father) and James Currie, all of whom are now dead. Others who are still very much to the fore include Jock Barclay, Jimmy Currie, Alex and Will Gillies, Colin Bodie, Geordie McKinnon, Jimmy Mathieson, Donald Campbell and Jimmy Gray. There were also those who joined the Auxiliary Fire Service during the war.

Before leaving the Station I asked the firemen if they had any fire prevention advice to offer. 'Don't smoke in bed,' I was told, 'and treat electric blankets with care.' It appears that electrical faults are the cause of many fires. 'Always switch off the T.V. at night and remove the plug,' said Leading Fireman Sharp, 'and

shut all doors before going to bed.' A final tip from Fireman Rosbotham for people who still have open fires: 'Don't bum too much wood or your chimney is is liable to seal up and go on fire.* Or as the old English proverb states: 'Better a small fire that warms than a big one that burns.'

Fire is one thing that all of us can well do without, but it does not pay to be complacent and imagine that it only happens to other people. Every day we read in the national press of fires in the home, factory or shop, often with disastrous results. It is at least some consolation to know that in Stewarton there are nine keen, well-trained local men equipped with first-class fire-fighting apparatus, and supported by the might of the whole South Western Area Fire organisation, ready to rush to our aid.