The Climthorpe Fire-Cat Scandal

 

On of the local scandals which has rather faded from the Climthorpe village heritage is the 1978 Summer Fete Scandal.

It seemed a fairly standard summer fayre, with the Climthorpe and Fustleton Volunteer Fire Department putting on a demonstration of "How to rescue a cat from a tree" using the Dennis Rotating Fire Ladder. (Shown in the slide image)

What emerged later was that Mr Wilkins, the CFVFD stunt cat had wandered off for a snooze, and wasn't available for the demonstration. Rather than disappoint the masses, Fire Chief McDonald "borrowed" one of the Vietnamese Boat Folk kids from the Orphanarium display, put them in fancy dress cat costume, then chased them up a tree.

No harm done, and Sgt Fitzhugh wasn't minded to raise a report....but ill-feeling remained for several years.

Bonus - Why do we love telling stories about the end of the world?

The Vintage Fire Engine

This is one from the odder set of slides that I have.  A set of card-mounted 35mm Black n White Negatives !  How rare.  Dating from 1937, allegedly, they do have the authentic feel of period clothes, cars and trucks.

Nice.

Bonus -

The Punnage

The Fire Boat

One of those slide which I think has potential.

But not sure what for.

I'm thinking that this is a detail of a Port Authority Fireboat...but who, when, where?

Bonus - Guy Biking Across the World Picks Up a Stray Kitty

Bonus 2 -

Cat Shaped Kindergarten, Germany

West Side Fire Dept

Could it be Boats and Water three days in a row??

Sadly not.

However, Why Are Dalmatians the Official Firehouse Dogs?

The tradition of Dalmatians in firehouses dates back more than a century. Nowadays they mainly serve as mascots, but before fire trucks had engines, Dalmatians played a vital role every time firefighters raced to a blaze.

Bonus - Silent Movie Stunts During the 1920s Were Insane

The Big Red Van

Looking like a scaled up child's toy, this is a beauty of a vehicle. Possible Fire-service related.

Bonus - Boredom + Engineers = Innovation

Nashville Fire Department

No date, but this slide seems to hale from Lansing, which is in Michigan. Apparently.

Another American Street Parade.

Bonus -