Polished brass was order of the day

MEMBERS of the former Bexhill Fire Brigade are seen in their pre-war finery.
The pictures form part of a collection amassed by the late Ted Cockett, pictured on the right of the group of four colleagues.
The collection spans the period from 1914 until 1940 when, like others across the country, the borough brigade was absorbed into the National Fire Service.
In the course of long and dedicated service, Ted Cockett rose to be second in command of the borough brigade. He died in 1959.
Now his granddaughter, Joanne Lloyd, has had the photographs copied and via family member Pauline Isted, is presenting them to Bexhill Museum.
The collection will form a significant addition to the museum's growing town archive.
Bill Pratt, of Ghyllside Avenue, Hastings, wrote: "I was more than surprised to see the old photos in this week's edition of the Observer as I had in mind sending you a copy of Item Two wondering if you had any use to print the same in your Nostalgia Spot."
Bill's later brother, Tom Pratt, was a Bexhill Fire Brigade veteran and had amassed an archive on its history.
His collection has been donated to Bexhill Museum.
Bill says of Tom: "I am sure he could have named everyone with the greatest of ease."
Bill has the names of everyone shown in the second picture: Front row, Chief Officer Jim Stevens; Second Officer Lew Angel; P. Scrase; A. Gilham; Guss Firrell; Pat Sweeney and Bill Durrant.
Rear row: Messenger M. Scrase; Third Officer Ted Cockett; Bob Hoad; G. Berry; George Pratt; A. Watson; J. Burfoot and Tom Pratt.
Bill says the photograph was taken in Egerton Park early in 1930.
He can't name those shown in the third photograph but says they are all faces that are familiar because of his family's connection with the brigade. Bill himself served with the Auxiliary Fire Service at the former fire station in Amherst Road from the outbreak of the Second World War until going into the RAF in 1941.
"I must add that many of the 'oldies' were still active at the station in Amherst Road during the war and Jim Stevens was our Chief Officer."
JOYCE Hoad, of London Road, had good reason to take special note of the trio of Bexhill Fire Brigade pictures.
"My late father-in-law, Robert Hoad, was in the fire service for many years. He served on the fire boats in the war.
"When he retired locally he was a Sub Officer.
"When they married in 1926 I think I am right in saying he went to church in a fire engine.
"He was certainly at the fire when Fireman Wise was killed and he attended his funeral."
Robert was pictured in the second photograph with colleagues. Joyce believes he was also on the right of the group pictured in the open cab on their fire engine.

Gary Bingham contacted Nostalgia Spot to say that third from left in the front row of the pre-war line-up in Egerton Park is his grandfather, George Dadd.