New Book “Fire & Rescue” - Nottinghamshire: 1914 to 1974 Hots the Bookshelves
Local author and former Nottinghamshire firefighter David Needham has released his third book: “Fire & Rescue” Nottinghamshire: 1914 to 1974. This captivating book takes readers on a historical journey through the evolution of the fire and rescue services in Nottinghamshire.
The book begins in an era when there was a Police - Fire Brigade in the City of Nottingham and takes readers through dramatic events such as the Zeppelin raids of 1916. It then explores the 1920s and 1930s, when fire brigades also crewed ambulances, and the significant changes brought about by the National Fire Service in 1941. The journey continues through to the 1974 amalgamation of the City and County Fire Brigades, forming Nottinghamshire Fire Service.
The book covers a wide range of challenging incidents, including responses to chemical incidents, train and aircraft crashes, water rescues, rescues by rope, fires in warehouses, underground tunnels, football stands, power stations, and of course, house fires.
Such incidents include the train collision at the Victoria Railway Station, Nottinghamshire’s response to the East Coast Floods in 1953 and fires at Nottingham Forest F.C. in 1968, Wilford Power Station and Fairfield Residential Care Home in the 1970’s to name but a few.
About the Author:
David Needham served for 30 years in the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, he served at five fire stations and the brigade HQ in many ranks, retiring in 2008 as a Divisional Officer.
He’s also the author of the well-received “Nottinghamshire Air Crashes,” published in 2009 unfortunately it is now out of print.
His first comprehensive account of the fire service in Nottinghamshire during World War II, titled “Battle of the Flames,” Nottinghamshire’s Fight for Survival in WW11(2009) is now in its second edition and third print run, and remains a sought-after resource for anyone interested in wartime firefighting.
“Fire and Rescue - Nottinghamshire” is a must-read for history enthusiasts, city and county residents, and anyone interested in the evolution of emergency services.