Unsung Heroes: Eastbourne's Fire Service 1824 - 1974 - Paperback

by Kevin Gordon (Foreword by), Stephen Levine (Author)

For 150 years, they answered the call. This is their story.
Long before the blue lights and modern water tenders we know today, a small group of volunteers stood ready to protect the town of Eastbourne from fire. Unsung Heroes traces the remarkable 150-year journey of Eastbourne's fire service - from its humble origins under Vestry control in 1824 to its amalgamation into the East Sussex Fire Service in 1974.
This richly detailed local history brings to life the men and women who served, the officers who led them, and the fires that tested them. Drawing on historical records and illustrated throughout with photographs, the book charts the extraordinary transformation of a Victorian volunteer brigade into a modern, professional emergency service.
Inside you will find:

• Dramatic accounts of major fires and the crews who fought them
• A detailed history of fire appliances - from the earliest hand pumps to powerful water tenders and turntable ladders
• Portraits of the officers who commanded the brigade and the personnel who served with distinction and bravery
• The brigade's role during the Second World War, when the stakes could not have been higher
• The camaraderie of inter-brigade competitions and the proud traditions of the service
• The story of the 1974 amalgamation that brought an era to a close