Description
Fire Helmet
Emergency Services Award.
The fire service was staffed by volunteers until World War II. Competitions and social events were often organised for volunteers and this helmet was awarded at a competition in 1881 held in Newbury to Senior Foreman H.S. Wheeler of the Wycombe Volunteer Fire Brigade. The fire service was especially important locally as furniture factories posed a particular fire risk. Many people still remember the Parker Knoll fire of 1970.
