VETERAN FIREMEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20086, 4 November 1939, Page 4

VETERAN FIREMEN

FIFTY YEARS' SERVICE

MR. THOMSON’S RECORD

BRIGADE PRESENTATIONS

MR. WILDISH’S 33 YEARS

The splendid record of 50 years’ active sei-vice as a lire brigndesman and officer, attained by Mr. Alex Thomson, was the subject of appreciative comment at a social gathering of the Gisborne Volunteer Fire Brigade, held last evening, when Superintendent J. W. Kane presented Mr. Thomson with the United Fire Brigades certificate of 50 years’ membership, and accompanied it with presentations of an armchair for his own use and a crystal set to be conveyed to Mrs. Thomson with the compliments of the brigade.

The superintendent referred with regret to the lack of appreciation shown outside brigade circles in such service records as Mr. Thomson’s. He pointed out that for 50 years their chief guest had fought fires on behalf of the citizens had trained younger men in the work of fire-fighting, and also had qualified himself for the highest ambulance awards available. Yet when he came to the stage of retirement, it was found impossible to interest public men in suitably acknowledging that service. The best Mr. Kane had been able to elicit oh approaching public bodies was an offer of a letter of thanks signed by the members of one such body.

“You will all remember our other old brigndesman, ‘Uncle’ Tom Morrison —what a fine fellow he was, and how he gave his services to the community as a fireman and in other capacities for 50 years. ‘Uncle’ did everything that was to be done. Ho drove the water-cart, lighted and put out the bridge lamps, tended the old swinging span of <he bridge, worked the stone-crusher, and did innumerable other jobs for the town. After a life-time of service, he received as acknowledgment a letter signed by members of the Borough Council.” added Mr. Kane.

“Reserved Something Better”

“Brigadesmen who knew his real value will agree that he deserved something Better at the hands of the community. So does our former deputy-superintendent, Mr. Alex Thomson. However, I believe that Mr. Thomson will value this certificate from the United Fire Brigades’ Association, signed only by the secretary.”

Every adult person in Gisborne knew Mr. Thomson, the speaker continued, and all knew him for a deeply conscientious and publicspirited man. He had become a fullfledged fireman in 1889, after having served a cadetship, and during the intervening 50 years had attended an average of 23 fires per year, besides at least 26 practices and many parades for instruction and other purposes. His services had been of the greatest value, and the speaker owed him a debt of thanks for the guidance he had given to him in his post of superintendent.

Not only as a fireman and officer, but also as a trained ambulance man with a decoration held by only a handful of others in New Zealand, Mr. Thomson had shown his value in many instances. His wide knowledge of brigade affairs and procedure and given him a unique position in the counsels of the corps, and his retirement had occasioned great loss to the brigade. It was pleasing to feel that he was still comparatively young, and extremely active, and that he had many years in which to enjoy the memories of his service.

The superintendent then presented Mr. Thomson with the U.F.B. certificate, and the personal gifts of the brigadesmen to himself and to Mrs. Thomson, the gathering tendering musical honours to the recipients.

Good Times in the Brigade

In acknowledgment, Mr. Thomson stated that he had enjoyed his association with brigade work, and always had been glad to pass on what knowledge he had of brigade work or first aid.

“One must give way as one grows older, and I can look back on good times spent in the brigade, and to the times when I was young enough to take part in the annual competitions,” he added, amidst applause. He wished the brigade every success, and tendered his thanks for the cooperation he had received in his post as deputy-superintendent.

Similar presentations were made by the superintendent to Mr. William Wildish, who last year completed 33 years as a fireman, and whom Mr. Kane described as the staunchest of the rank and file of the brigade. “There was nothing he would not take on. You could put him anywhere and depend upon him doing just what you asked him to do. He would never quit,” said Mr. Kane, who added that Mr. Wildish had been loyal at all times, and a good competitor, as well as a good fireman. He and Mr. Thomson had been two of the keenest competition workers in the days when the brigade had many champions. “The True Fireman” Mr. Wildish replied briefly, recalling the services of Mr Thomson as an officer of the brigade, and declaring that he had worked under him with pleasure because he had recognised in him the true fireman. Occasion also was taken to present gifts to two former foremen of the brigade, Messrs. J. Weston and W. 11. Griffin, who had completed 30 years and 25 years respectively in the brigade at the time of their retirement. Firemen Bertram Hall and Leicester A. Brown, also retired, received certificates of 7f and 4.J years. The reunion was one of the most successful held by the brigade in i'ecent years, its success being contributed to by items rendered by Messrs. W. Wilkie, A. Seal and Wreford Wade.