Judy Middleton 2003 (revised 2019)
 |
| copyright © D. Sharp The former Portslade Fire Station in August 2019 |
In October 1898 a deputation urged Portslade Council to form its own Fire Brigade. A committee was set up to consider the matter and in February 1890 committee members consulted Superintendent Lacroix of the Brighton Volunteer Fire Brigade as to the equipment they might need, and the number of men needed. Lacroix made the following recommendations:
 |
| copyright © J.Middleton The highly decorated Victor Lacroix |
1,000 feet of canvas hosepipe was essential
costing £50
Fire escape and hose cart costing £35
At least ten men
Jacket and cap issued for each man
Lacroix agreed to take the preliminary drills, and
indeed he continued to inspect the men for a couple of years.
In April 1900 the first thirteen members of
Portslade Fire Brigade were sworn in. Their surnames were as follows:
Abraham
Baker
Churchill
Field
Hillman
Long
Packer
Paull
Pickard
Puttock
Rugg
Savill
Wilby
 |
| copyright © G. Osborne Portslade Fire Brigade in the early 1900s, at this time their fire appliances were stored in a council yard on the corner of Church Road-Vale Road before the new Fire Station was built in Church Road. With thanks to Mr G. Osborne for granting permission for the reproduction of the above photograph from his private collection. |
Henry Pettett
 |
| copyright © S. Pettett Henry & Fanny Pettett with their son Albert. |
A very interesting photograph survives of Henry
Pettett wearing his fire brigade uniform during the First World War.
He certainly liked to move around Portslade – he once lived in
Windmill Cottage, Clarence Street, by 1901 he was to be found at 13
Elm Road, in 1911 his home was at 50 Trafalgar Road, while his
address in 1921 was 3 Beaconsfield Road. It seems possible that Henry
Pettett might have attained a degree of immortality because his
family are firmly of the opinion that the fascinating plaster head
above the doorway at 3 Beaconsfield Road is the spitting image of old
Henry Pettett.
Henry Pettett’s occupation was described as a
stoker / fireman. On Christmas Day 1890 he married Fanny King at St Andrew’s Church, Portslade, and when his son Albert married in
1921, he too chose St Andrew’s Church, following in the family
tradition. (Information kindly supplied by S. Pettett).
Captain Packer
On 8 June 1902 there was a fire at Hangleton on Mr
Hardwick’s property. Captain Packer of the Portslade Fire Brigade
took it upon himself to call for the assistance of Hove and Brighton
Fire Brigades. No doubt he deemed the fire severe enough to seek
extra help, but the Royal Assurance Company took a dim view of his
action. They refused to pay out £5 – the cost of summoning the
Brighton Fire Brigade – because they deemed the call-out
unnecessary. Therefore, the Royal Assurance Company would only pay
the expenses incurred by Portslade Fire Brigade.
In September 1903 Captain Packer was warned not to
call upon the assistance of other brigades in the event of a fire,
but to leave the decision to the property owner. No doubt the
unfortunate captain felt this ruling was a slur on his honour, and he
resigned shortly afterwards.
Albert William Hillman
 |
| copyright © G. Osborne The 'new' Portslade Fire Station in 1909 With thanks to Mr G. Osborne for granting permission for the reproduction of the above photograph from his private collection. |
Albert William Hillman, son of Walter Hillman,
embarked on his public service career at the age of seventeen when he
became honorary secretary of a committee set up to arrange
celebrations for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
A. W. Hillman joined Portslade Fire Brigade in
1900 and was appointed captain in November 1903 – he continued to
head the brigade for a period of 25 years. During his time a new Fire
Station was built, and the first motor fire engine provided.
In June 1910 Chief Officer Hillman received a
testimonial from the directors of the Diaphragm Leather Company in
Franklin Road to express their appreciation of the firemen’s
conduct at a fire on their premises on 28 May 1910. It must have been
a severe fire because the cost of the damage was put at £2,000.
There also seems to have been a behind-the-scenes rumpus on that
occasion concerning Hillman’s handling of the situation. Chief
Officer Hillman asked Portslade Council to state firmly whether or
not he had complete authority at the scene of a fire. If he did not
have such authority, then he would have to consider his position. It
seems that a bossy councillor had been present at the fire, no doubt
telling Chief Officer Hillman what he ought to be doing. But
Portslade Council were quick to reassure the irate Hillman that he
had complete authority at the scene of a fire, and moreover they
would always back his decisions.
During the First World War Chief Officer Hillman
trained Southwick volunteers in fire-fighting duties, and he was in
charge of both organisations until Southwick established its own fire
brigade. Hillman also acted as a special constable during the war,
and by the 1930s he held the rank of inspector for the Hove County
Division.
 |
| copyright © Brighton & Hove City Libraries Captain A.W. Hillman in front of Portslade Fire engine at a fete held in the grounds of Windlesham House in 1927 |
Hillman was indeed a busy man. Other positions he filled were as follows:
Manager of St Andrew’s School, Portslade
Sidesman at St Andrew’s Church, Portslade
Clerk to the Portslade Joint Burial Committee for
eleven years
Portslade councillor for six years
Secretary of the Portslade-by-Sea Unemployment
Relief Organisation
First initiate of the Duke of Richmond Lodge,
Portslade (Freemasons)
In 1924 Hillman was foreman of the jury at the
inquest into the death of the celebrated Sussex cricketer George
Street who unhappily was killed when his motor-bike crashed at
Southern Cross. The coroner deeply appreciated the plan of the
accident that Hillman drew on behalf of the police.
In 1928 Hillman moved from his home in St Andrew’s Road to Hove. In 1931 he was elected a councillor for Medina Ward,
defeating Major Phillips by just two votes. Three years later he was
elected to East Sussex County Council.
In 1932 Hillman was appalled to hear that
Portslade Council was considering relinquishing their own fire
brigade on the grounds of expense, and going in with Hove. However,
he need not have worried because that solution was going to be
expensive, and the matter was dropped.
By 1935 Hillman had been treasurer of the South
Coast Area of the National Fire Brigade’s Association for ten
years, He was also active in the cause of the Benevolent Fund of the
Fire Service, and in 1915 he was presented with the Distinguished
Service Medal of the Association.
 |
| copyright ©
Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Captain A. W. Hillman with Hove's Fire Chief at Hove Fire Station in Hove Street in 1937 |
Hillman became a keen supporter of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, and by 1940 he was vice-chairman. He rescued the club from liquidation.
Hillman had the distinction of being elected Mayor
of Hove for a fifth year of office, but two months later in November
1940 he died. It was a great shock to everyone because he seemed to
have made a good recovery from a setback in 1939 when his left foot
was amputated because of sepsis.
 |
| copyright
© Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Albert William Hillman, the Mayor of Hove leaving All Saints Church, Hove in 1938 |
Hillman’s first wife, Alice Ethel, sang on the concert platform under the name of Avril Houston. She died in June 1934 and was buried in Portslade Cemetery. His second wife became Mayoress of Hove. Hillman’s Hove address was a house called Rhodesia at 12 Princes Square.
Some Events
On 3 August 1903 Portslade Fire Brigade held their
sports day and competition at Victoria Recreation Ground. This event
was of course a great attraction for people, especially youngsters.
In January 1905 it was reported that Portslade
Fire Brigade had attended two fires in Southwick. Southwick Council
then decided to make an annual contribution to Portslade until such
time as they might have their own fire brigade.
On 28 June 1905 Portslade Fire Brigade won fifth
place at the Crystal Palace in a competition involving the whole of
England and Wales.
In July 1905
Portslade Fire Brigade won 1st
prize in the Escape Drill at the Fire Brigade Union Competition –
they also held the Challenge Shield for a year.
Conflict of Interest
 |
| copyright © Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove |
In 1906 there was some controversy over two men who belonged both to Portslade Fire Brigade, as well as the Gas Works Fire Brigade. At the National Fire Brigade Union competition that took place in June 1906, these two men decided to compete on the Gas Works side, thus weakening the Portslade team. When Portslade Council heard about it, they decreed that no member of their fire brigade could belong to another brigade as well.
 |
| copyright ©
Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove This early 1900s photograph of a horse drawn and steam driven pump fire engine used by Portslade Gas Works Fire Brigade, a similar engine would have been used by Portslade Fire Brigade. |
Fire Alarm Improvements
After a fire on 22 February 1907 in Station Road,
Captain Hillman proposed that a more efficient method of calling out
the fire brigade ought to be adopted. At that time, if the steam
alarm at the Britannia Flour Mills was not available, the way of
communication was to send a messenger scurrying off to raise the
alarm. Captain Hillman wanted Portslade Council to approach the
National Telephone Company about the matter, but they refused, most
probably on the grounds of cost.
However, by June 1907 Portslade councillors had
changed their minds, and three fire-alarm posts were installed at the
following locations:
Station Road, at the corner of Franklin Road
The corner of Trafalgar Road and Victoria Road,
near Mr Coustick’s establishment
The corner of South Street, adjacent to the
Brewery
By July 1908 the new electric system was operating
so satisfactorily that the council decided to dispense with the
services of the messengers.
 |
| copyright © G. Osborne Portslade Fire Brigade marching behind the officials of the Court Olive Branch (Ancient Order of Foresters) in 1909 With thanks to Mr G. Osborne for granting permission for the reproduction of the above photograph from his private collection. |
Firemen and Equipment
In the old days firemen were part-time volunteers. Bells were fitted inside the men’s houses, which could be activated by someone pulling a switch inside a glass-fronted fire-alarm post. Then the men had to dash to the Works Depot on the corner of Vale Road and Church Road (where Tozer Court is today) and collect their handcart.
Old hoses were made of leather, riveted at the
seams, and later on canvas hoses came into use. But canvas hoses took
a long time to dry out after being used to douse a fire.
Soon after Portslade Fire Station was built in
1909, Portslade Fire Brigade acquired an up-to-date fire engine.
Legend has it that it was donated by a grateful builder who was
allowed to develop part of Victoria Road for housing.
In September 1909 Fireman Sleeman was reported to be incapable of further duties because of an accident, and so his employment was terminated.
In September 1909 Fireman Sleeman was reported to be incapable of further duties because of an accident, and so his employment was terminated.
Probationers Mills and Hastings became
fully-fledged firemen in 1909, followed two months later by S. Fuller
from Albion Street.
In June 1910 the following men qualified for the
long service medal of the National Fire Brigades’ Union after ten
years of service. They were:
2nd
Officer Abraham
3rd
Officer Puttock
No. 1 Fireman Long
In April 1933 the following men all received a 5-year bar to add to their 20-year silver medal. They were:
Chief Office Puttock
Fireman G. Pierce
Fireman R. Vine
Fireman H. White received a 10-year bronze medal
Anecdotes
An anecdote of the old days concerns a Ford motor fire-engine. Unfortunately, the vehicle was not very good at getting up a hill. One day there was a small fire at Portslade Industrial School and the Ford got stuck trying to get up High Street. The Portslade firemen were mortified to learn that Hove Fire Brigade (alerted by telephone) had travelled a different route and were first to arrive at the fire.
 |
| copyright ©
Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove The men of Hove Fire Brigade at Hove Street, who with their superior fire engine got to the small fire at Portslade Industrial School before Portslade's own Fire Brigade. |
Joining with Hove?
 |
| copyright © J.Middleton Terracotta embellishments on the Fire Station, showing the badge of Portslade by Sea Urban District Council. |
By January 1932 Portslade Council had started to think that having their own fire brigade was an unnecessary expense and they began negotiations with Hove Council to provide fire cover for Portslade too. Naturally enough, A. W. Hillman was appalled at the prospect. However, by June 1932 negotiations collapsed, ironically, because of the expense involved. Hove Council had demanded a contribution of £415 a year plus an assurance from Portslade Council that hydrants would be provided wherever it was felt to be necessary.
Instead,
Portslade Council appointed a sub-committee to purchase a new fire
engine The members wasted no time, and by August 1932 a Denis fire
engine had been selected at a cost of £1,330. In addition £99-3-10s
was
to be expended on the following equipment:
1 jumping sheet @ £7-10s
1
Salvas outfit @ £17-8-6d
Hydrant keys @ £1
2
Tetrach extinguishers @ £5-15s
10 tins of foam powder @ £15
Insulated pliers @ £1
Insulated
cutters @ £1-10s
Uniforms
£50
In fact the uniforms that were ordered from Romford, only cost £43-16-5d, but it was expected that new hydrants would cost up to £500.
Now that the firemen were well kitted-out, it was time for the chief officer to have a new uniform, boots, etc. which he did in 1934 at a cost of £10-18s.
In 1934 it was recorded that three firemen were capable of driving the fire engine, they were:
A. V. Green, 2nd officer
H. Hardy, engineer
R. Burdock
Apparently, the regular driver, Mr Scammel, had poor eyesight.
Andrew Melville, the well-known theatrical impresario who lived at Whychcote, was chairman of the fire brigade sub-committee from 1933 to 1934.
Fires and the 1930s
In 1933 there was a suggestion that the steam hooter at Flynn’s might be used to give a fire warning.
17 May 1933 – there was a fire at Merlin Lodge, Station Road, and owner Mr D. F. Sundius Smith sent his thanks to the brigade.
14 November 1933 – there was a fire at 11 Carlton Terrace, and also a chimney fire at 13 Brambledean Road.
23 December 1933 – there was a fire at 24 Church Road.
The Old Question
In 1937 the old question of expense raised its head once more. It was stated that although Portslade firemen were a loyal and efficient body of men and did their job well, their equipment had become obsolete and it would cost £1,200 to replace.
A Despicable Offence
In November 1939 John Blomerley Scholefield was appointed full-time Chief Officer of Portslade Fire Brigade at a salary of £200 a year – he had previously been Chief Officer of the Baldock Fire Brigade in Hertfordshire.
It seems he was proud to wear his uniform, especially when embellished with his war medals, but unfortunately he was not entitled to wear them. It would be interesting to know the identity of the eagle-eyed man who spotted this breach and reported it. In September 1941 Chief Officer Scholefield appeared at Hove County Court accused of the ‘despicable’ offence of wearing medals to which he was not entitled. The medals in question were the 1914 star and ribbons of the British war medal, the Victory medal, and the Russian Order of St Michael and St George. He was fined £15 with £5 costs.
End of the Line
 |
| copyright © H.G.J. Flowers Portslade National Fire Service was photographed outside the Southdown Motor Works in 1941. In the background is the ladder belonging to the engine that also boasted a Coventry Climax pump |
In 1941 all individual fire brigades were nationalised and became the National Fire Service.
After the war, Portslade became part of the East Sussex Fire Brigade.
 |
| copyright © J.Middleton The former Fire Station photographed in the context of its surroundings. |
Middleton J, Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade
Sussex Daily News
The Keep
DO/A35/1-40 - Portslade Council Minute Books
Copyright © J.Middleton 2019
page layout by D.Sharp