Purchased by Devon County Fire Service and
allocated to Kingsbridge in June 1953 "Florence"
was left in a barn for over a decade slowly
decaying. In 2004 Mervin Freeman decided one New
Years Eve to buy "Florence" from her resting
place, bring her home and restore her to her
former glory.
Purchased by Devon County Fire
Authority, from Dennis Bros ltd, Guildford, in
1953 OUO 547 is a Type B Water tender, Chassis
No 3653 F8. Body No 43528, fitted with a Rolls
Royce six cylinder petrol engine, Ser No
B60-20AE319. producing 123BHP at 3,750 RPM. She
has a 10’wheelbase, is 18’10” long and only 6’6”
wide. Fitted with a 300 gallon water tank and
carried a 35’ wooden double extension
ladder.More than 250 F8’s were built and 16 were
brought by Devon, She was first based at
Kingsbridge.
There
are many reasons for buying old fire engines
here is mine.
Down here in sunny Devon we have lots of small
fire stations manned by retained firefighters,
we also have 1 station crewed by volunteers, it
just happens that this station has played a
major part in my life.
Mervin Freeman
There
are many reasons for buying old fire engines
here is mine.
Down here in sunny Devon we have lots of small
fire stations manned by retained firefighters,
we also have 1 station crewed by volunteers, it
just happens that this station has played a
major part in my life.
Mervin Freeman