Firefighters and tutors on the S1 training course in 1974 reunited 50 years later at the Queens Head in Framwellgate on June 13.
This year marks 50 years of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service as we know it.
On April 1, 1948, in the aftermath of the Second World War, a fire service covering County Durham was first established.
In 1974, the reorganisation of local government boundaries saw the County Borough Fire Brigade of Darlington merged with what was then known as Durham Fire Brigade.
To mark 50 years since these changes took place, the Service reached out to Firefighters and staff members past, asking them to share their stories.
Among those to get in touch were members of the 1974 S1 Intake – the first group of Firefighters to complete their training as part of the new look Service.
The evening before, the S1 intake reported for duty at Framwellgate Moor Training School, for in those days the intense training saw new recruits live on campus – with the trainees sleeping on bunk beds in an appliance room.
While not all 30 would graduate on to become fully-fledged Firefighters, 27 did.
After an intensive training course, they celebrated finishing the course, along with their tutors, by venturing to a pub in Framwellgate, Durham.
And on Thursday, June 13, 50 years after that initial celebration, many of surviving members of the original intake, along with tutors, reunited at the Queens Head in Framwellgate to enjoy a pint and reminisce about ‘the good old days.'
Celebrating 50 years, Chief Fire Officer Steve Helps said: “2024 is a big year for us as we mark 50 years since the County Durham and Darlington Brigades joined together.
“As a Service, we’re committed to looking to the future as we strive to do the best for our communities.
“But we equally know and appreciate that we wouldn’t be where we are today without the dedicated service of all those Firefighters who came before us.
“I want to thank these Firefighters for their service, and I am delighted to see their bond has endured all these years.”
The Chair of the Combined Fire Authority, councillor John Shuttleworth, added: “CDDFRS is an amazing Service and every Firefighter and staff member, past and present, should be immensely proud of their contributions.”
