Neville James, 2016

My father Charles James was Superintendent of the Fire Brigade for the CWS, based in Manchester, and he used to officiate at the regional and national fire brigade competitions referred to by Mr Danby. I attach a photo of him at the starter’s klaxon at one of those events and I wonder if any of your contributors remember him? 

I was just into my teens in the early 60’s and I sometimes accompanied him to these events all over the country, but as a family we always attended the national final at the CWS Sports Ground in Moston, Manchester, which was only a mile from our home. Dad would do the factory fire equipment inspections and often he would take me with him in the school holidays; I would then get a factory tour at the end.

The fire brigade was disbanded in 1967 and my father passed away in 1976.