Comments relating to the 2008 show are still arriving we have listed a few here. If you'd like to add your comments please drop us an email.
Email:
Thank you for one of the best weekends I've had for several years. I attended on the off chance with my ex Hertfordshire Dennis and was pleased to be made welcome by all involved, even down to a free cup of tea. Its great to be able to get involved and do some firefighting demos for the public and I greatly enjoyed being the driver on the retained turn out to the house fire. Once again many thanks and hope to see some of you down at Odiham and all of you next year at Derby.
Richard C.
Email:
Can I just say how much I enjoyed the show over the last weekend. I must compliment the organisers for all their hard work and dedication to produce such a wonderful event.
I was particularly pleased to see the large number of appliances and other emergency vehicle's that attended. There must have been in excess of 40 on the Sunday i was able to visit?
I am only sorry that my appliance let me down at the very last moment and i had to travel by car. Nevertheless, i'm glad i did. I met up with many of my friends who i have not seen for some time and catching up on news and events !
Once again, John Stewart was providing a masterly commentary on the vehicles and displays and his lovely voice could be heard in most areas as the sound system was very good.
A friend of mine allowed me to display his vehicle in the arena parade and I enjoyed this very much. I spotted my friend John Whiteside and his lovely collection of models virtually as soon as I got there. I was hoping to make this our group event meeting for the year but I'm sad to say that only one 6x4 Range Rover was present.
Derby has the very good fortune of being fairly central for most to travel to and an ideal location in the lovely Markeaton Park with something for everyone even if you don't like 'fire engines' ! Mark Wildon had his new acquisition , a magnificent Gloster Saro airport crash appliance which he had only owned for 6 weeks. It looked brand new.
Brilliant is all i can say !
Thank You all.
Walter D.
Email:
I'm writing to say that I enjoyed the fire show at Markeaton Park last Sunday.
Sam B.
excerpt from "Off the run"
Well we finally made it to the Derby Fire Show 2008 after many years of wanting to attend but not being able to due to work or other engagements.
I took the firm's Land Rover 110 L4p towing our incident unit trailer and Jill took our Discovery and caravan. We arrived late afternoon on Thursday and were made very welcome by Dave B, Alan O and John T. We were allocated a pitch with electric hook up and proceeded to plant our caravan and erect our awning soon after we were brought a welcome cup of tea. Needless to say i spent the rest of the day chatting with people that i had not seen for some time.
We visited 'The Bearded Dwarf's' beer tent with some of the most unusual beers i have ever seen. John and his colleagues running the bar are medieval re-enactment enthusiasts and the beers and meads reflected this. The pwer for the site was provided by Alan and Fiona's 65 KVA diesel generator with each user being charged a small fee for the weekend. This was a wonderful idea as it stopped lots of small generators screaming away and the danger and possible illegalities of refuelling petrol units.
Saturday saw Bill M sorting out a vast number of machines for the road run. I did not participate as i had a stall to set up. It was a magnificent sight when at least thirty five machines returned to the showground with audible warnings and lights operating. The show settled down to various arena displays with strict control over participants to ensure valid FSPG membership. The arena displays and stalls kept the public and exhibitors well entertained. I of course spent most of the day chatting and then was forced to return to the berr tent whre a charity auction compared by John S raised a sum of money for the Children's hospital.
Sunday started overcast with very slight rainfall but quickly turned into a good day. The arena events continued and even i was persuaded to get involved in a demonstration of L4P's. During the day one of our old members came over to see me, it was goods to see someone who has not had a good time of it lately and is now confirmed to a wheelchair.
The show eventually came to an end and the organisers dismantled things very quickly. We and the stewards stayed Sunday night and carried on chatting and drinking. Monday saw a quick breakfast and then lost of poeple striking camp ready for the journey home. We left at midday for the four and a half hour trip back to Sussex.
John S made me the most welcome i have ever been anywhere and shook my hand and thanked me for coming every time he saw me. Thanks John.
The show was well attended by group members and it was good to see seven members of the executive committee in attendance.
Well done to the organisers for an excellent show which they can be proud of.