Bayview Terrace, Newquay
21 January 1982
From left to right: Marty Wilton, Pete Robinson, Tony Liddicoat, Andy Renals, Cedric Roseveare, Bob Stacey. Photograph probably by Bernard White, NUJ. 21 January 1982.
This photograph was taken on the 21st of January 1982 — I've written those details on the reverse of the original in my possession.
It was probably taken by Bernard White, the local NUJ registered photographer. Bernard chose to attend as many of our incidents as he possibly could, either as a result of hearing us mobilised on his radio scanner or hearing us as we traversed Newquay with horns sounding.
The fire had been at an address in Bayview Terrace, Newquay. In the picture, from left to right, are firefighters Marty Wilton, Pete Robinson, Tony Liddicoat, Andy Renals, Cedric Roseveare and Bob Stacey.
We're all smiling for the camera so I deduce from that that we'd managed a successful outcome, despite any damage that the actual fire may have caused.
It's an image made at night — notice the effect of the flash gun illuminating not only us but creating hard shadows behind us.
Kit and Equipment
Some interesting things to note about what we're wearing.
We are in yellow plastic wet legs — the type of thing a sea-fisher might wear — and plastic debris gloves, which had a horrible tendency to weld themselves to your skin if you were caught in a high temperature situation.
Contrast the fire tunics being worn. Marty Wilton is wearing the modern single-breasted fire tunic of what was considered a better fabric — those Nomex tunics were treated with a fire suppressant which had the effect of producing yellow brittle patches where exposed to high temperatures. The rest of us are wearing the woollen Melton double-breasted fire tunic that was being issued when I joined the service in December 1974.
The helmets are the old cork-based helmets, painted yellow by the stage — prior to being yellow they were black. Yellow was chosen as it aided searching for colleagues who might have become trapped at an incident. On a couple of the helmets you can see black diamonds. Our breathing apparatus officer at that time, Sub Officer Ivor Dodd, had the brilliant idea of obtaining the cut-out from the more usual helmet marking — which was a black circle. Cornwall, being different. Saving money.
The Crew
By 1982 I'd been in the fire service seven years. The crew that evening was a mixed crew of whole time, retained and retained firefighters.
Marty Wilton would have gone out in charge as senior hand. Some little time later, at the request of our then officer in charge, Marty stood down to afford me the opportunity to experience the role of temporary leading firefighter — having himself done a number of temporary leading firefighter stints at the station. Marty at that time had not been interested in taking promotion. Later he decided to apply and was promoted into the role. It was very decent of Marty to forego that period of acting up, as it gave me a taste of sitting in the officer in charge seat.
Sadly Marty is no longer with us. He died whilst on holiday in Cyprus, some years after having retired from the service. Cedric Roseveare also predeceased us, passing in 2020.
RIP Marty. RIP Cedric.
Andy Renals joined Cornwall County Fire Brigade in December 1974. This is one of a series of memories from his operational career.