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65 years after he tackled wartime blazes, fireman Ray is rewarded; Brave great-grandad is honoured

0 Comments | Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough, England), March 8, 2010

Byline: MIKE BLACKBURN

Teesside fireman during the Second World War has been recognised 65 years later.

Ray Jennings helped put out fires at his own factory, Ashmores, on Bowesfield Lane in Stockton, including one when it was bombed by the Luftwaffe.

The 93-year-old great granddad is believed to be the only surviving member of the 22-strong auxiliary fire service who served at Ashmores between 1941-45.

On the day a German incendiary sparked a blaze in the factory roof, Ray, an engineer and foreman, was getting his hair cut. He immediately hopped on his bike and pedalled back to work to help drag the heavy hand pumps across the site and put out the blaze.

It was one of a number of fires the volunteer crew -who received just pounds 5 a year to buy their firefighting gear -successfully extinguished.

The job was a big turnaround from when an 11-year-old Ray nearly burned down his family home by hanging nappies on the fire!

Chief Fire Officer Ian Hayton, presented the award to Ray at Cleveland Fire Brigade headquarters in Hartlepool before 150 serving fire officers. He said: “We were delighted to welcome Ray and his family to recognise and celebrate his service as an auxiliary fire fighter on Teesside during the Second World War.

“Ray has a lot of stories to tell about his firefighting experiences and he confirmed how important it was to be aware of the need for fire safety and safe systems of work – messages that are still valid today.

“We also heard about the occasions where if he hadn’t taken responsibility there could have been devastating consequences. We presented him with an award as a token of our respect.”

Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South, helped arrange the recognition from the Fire Brigade after meeting Ray and Rose at their 70th wedding anniversary last year.

She said: It was a delight to hear Ray reminiscing about his war years when he was in the National Fire Service and to hear that he gave so much in the most extraordinarily difficult times.”

Ray, from Fairfield said: “I’m very proud to get this recognition.

It’s one of those things in the war that was forgotten.

“Thankfully no one was killed or seriously injured in the fires
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