Brigade In Fine Form

In Part 2 of Return to Blankney by Reginald Williams, he refers to the Second Earl of Londesborough having a passion for fire-engines. He refers to the Fire Station at the Hall and also the Earl's little red-fire engine. Below is a report taken from the Lincolnshire Echo and dated August 1913, the fire-engine mentioned in the report is the same fire-engine referred to by Reginald Williams.

Brigade in fine form

A very successful drill and inspection of the members and apparatus of the Blankney Fire Brigade took place on Saturday afternoon.
The Inspecting Officer was Mr Slater of London, Secretary of the National Fire Brigade Union. After the engine and apparatus had been inspected, the members went through several drills in first-class style. The first drill consisted of the brigade running out from the fire station with the fire escape and length of hose piping through the Hall and round to the north side, a feat which was accomplished in two minutes. The next item was the bringing out of the engine, harnessing and attaching the horses, galloping round a part of the Hall into the main road and back again to the Hall. The fire in the engine was lighted on the way and on getting back the hose and the engine was pumping in 12 minutes.
After the drill display, the annual dinner was held in the Hall, to which about 35 sat down.