London Fire Brigade. Southwark Training Centre. Recruits Passing- out Parade 1993.

Firefiighter recruits undertook an intensive basic training course prior to their posting to their respective fire stations as probationer firefighters. Their achievements at Southwark Training Centre were marked by a passing-out parade at the end of their recruits course. What followed was when their real training started, at the fire station and at real incidents.
In memory of the late Len Pugsley, a Station Officer in the LFB and a recruit training instructor.

[@juk-hw5lv]

For a nerd interested in military customs and traditions, it's interesting to see how the drill is substantially different to the one of the Army. No stomping and the drill commands are given intelligibly. Interesting watch, thank you for posting this

[@serenityheaven2571]

What a lovely video, thank you. My parents best friend was a Station Officer on Red Watch at Hornsea station, all I ever did was grill him about being a firefighter, back then i was too small 5ft4! , so did my nurses training instead, but still to this day always took an interest in LFB.

[@sparkymark68]

The gentleman who took that squad was Len Pugsley. He was my instructor when I was at Southwark. He was a great man and is much missed.

[@s10m0t10n]

I'm sorry to learn that Southwark TC (and the fire station) are no longer part of the LFB. I attended my selection 'interview' and trained at Southwark in early 1974 and returned to it for all sort of reasons over my time in the service - B.A. drills, TL course, delivering vehicles and equipment etc. Memories of hook ladder drills, pump/hose drills, escape drills, lowering under foot, learning to tie the variety of knots and all the other things that kept us so very busy will always stay with me. We were one of the two squads that were, literally, at the front of the recruiting drive which meant we were expected to learn 16 weeks worth of training in 10 weeks before being sent out to our stations around the LFB where we became known as 'wombles'. At the time I retired there was a skills shortage looming again because those of us who filled that same gap (starting in '74) were leaving, taking experience, driving and specialist qualifications with us and not too many of the younger firefighters wanted to take them on.

[@Cockney68]

Nice to see the old place. I went through in 92 and my dad back in the 60’s. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@Mani_Matter]

thank you for uploading

[@Wammer1007]

My Dad was a PTI at Southwark 35 years ago!

[@RedCodeRob1]

Wonderful traditions and skills. Sad to see the demise of Fire Services worldwide to the whims of politicians.

[@SteamboatWilley]

It's crazy that firefighter training has been outsourced and the buildings sold off. Yet another example of sucessive governments (and local authorities) selling off the family silver.

[@ambetui]

Totally agree.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

When did London Fire Brigade replace the old emblem

[@ambetui]

If you mean the cap badge/helmet transfer the GLC badge cameinto being on the 1st April 1965, before that and from 1948 it was the LCC cap badge. I hope this is the answer you are seeking?. Dave Pike.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

@@ambetui When was the last one before the current one replaced

[@ambetui]

@@oscarosullivan4513 That would have been in 1986 with the demise of the GLC and the creation of the LFCDA (London Fire & Civil Defence Authority) an unelected quango!

[@Heretican]

London was still English then