Mexborough and Swinton Times December 23, 1938
Conisbrough Fire Brigade 35 years ago
Here is a competition team of Conisbrough Fire Brigade 35 years ago.
The photograph shows (left to right), standing, fireman (later Sergeant) G.J.Walker and fireman (late Captain) E Gregory; seated, fireman J Oakley, Captain W Jones and Sergeant T Senior.
This interesting picture was taken in Doncaster in 1903 shortly after the team and won the trophy held by Captain Jones at the Yorkshire National Fire Brigade competitions at Bradford. The brigade, which was responsible to the old Conisbrough Parish Council, and a sense of 10, and was well-known in fire brigade competition circles, where they met with a fair amount of success; two years earlier they had won the shield at the same competitions, held that year at Rotherham.
Of the men in the picture only one remains a member of the brigade, Mr Walker, of Conan Road, Conisbrough, who completes 42 years’ service in January.
Mr Gregory, who is seen wearing his South African War medal, died in September last after a long association with the Brigade, the last four years as Captain.
Sergeant Cassini, uncle of Mr George Senior, the Conisbrough builder and for many years an employee at Messrs Kilner Bros glass works, died seven or eight years ago, and Captain Jones, who for many years was a blacksmith with premises opposite the Three Horse Shoes Hotel, is also dead.
Mr Utley, a one-time deputy at Cadeby Main Colliery, left the district some years ago for South Elmsall, when he is still believed to be in residence. The medal won by Mr Senior is the fireman’s 20 years long service medal.
At the time the picture was taken the Brigade premises were on the site of the Conisbrough Picture Hall. These premises were converted from an old barn and double doors opening on to Church Street.
In the summer of 1912 new premises had to be erected for the Brigade.
In 1903 the brigade using a manual fire engine, bought a few years before, and still the engine the Brigade uses today.