Firefighters remember the ‘father of the British fire service’ at a special memorial service at Fortrose on the Black Isle

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Northeast SFRS Heritage Trust volunteers with 1915 Dennis firefighting equipment.

The ‘Father of the British Fire Service’ has been commemorated at a special event on the Black Isle.

Key figures from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) traveled to Fortrose last weekend for a memorial service for James Braidwood.

Members of the public and Mr Braidwood’s descendants also attended the service at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, with more than 50 people in total attending.

North-east SFRS Heritage Trust volunteers with SFRS Director Ross Haggart and Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty Joanie Whiteford.

Churchgoers could hear special poems and speeches at the altar while viewing paintings made by local school children on the church walls.

Representatives from the Scottish Fire Heritage Museum, Scottish Fire Brigades Heritage Trust and North-East Scottish Fire Heritage Trust were present, as well as SFRS Chief Executive Ross Haggart.

Guests were treated to displays including historic uniforms, 1915 equipment and volunteers dressed in full regalia.

Later this year, SFRS will also commemorate the creation of the world’s first municipal fire brigade, which will take place on Wednesday, October 23 at St. Peter’s Cathedral. Giles in Edinburgh.

The Heritage Trusts are also organizing a series of exciting events in Edinburgh and beyond for the public to take part in over the coming months.

As part of our cooperation with Mercat Tours, we invite everyone willing to take part in a Royal Flames guided tour, which will take you in the footsteps of a 19th-century firefighter.

Land Rover in front of the church of St. Andrzej.

Residents can also attend a specialist lecture on the history and science behind fire investigations or a family workshop on water quantification.

“Everyone will find something for himself. For more information, visit the Scottish Fire Heritage Museum website at or visit the Museum on McDonald Road, Edinburgh,” a spokesman said.

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