Fire museum volunteers earn highest award

The team of volunteers at Fireground, Greater Manchester’s museum of firefighting based in Rochdale is the latest local recipient of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).

This is the highest award which can be given to a volunteer group in the UK and is equivalent in status to the MBE.

It acknowledges the tremendous dedication and contribution by the Fireground team, just over forty years since volunteers first created a small museum in an old fire service workshop.

Since then, the group has continued to preserve the history of firefighting in the region through its exhibitions and events, whilst welcoming tens of thousands of visitors to its Rochdale site.

Led by curator and former fire officer, Bob Bonner, the volunteer team is made up of all ages, many of them retired firefighters and control room operators, as well as several members with no previous fire service connections.

Bob said: “After so many years working hard to develop this museum and its unique collection, the King’s Award is the icing on the cake. I am so proud of this team and all it has achieved over four decades.”

 

 

 

In 2021, in partnership with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Rochdale Council, the group finally achieved its aspiration of acquiring and restoring the 1933 former Rochdale fire station in Maclure Road and developing it into a state-of-the-art museum of firefighting.

Now called “Fireground”, the station houses an amazing collection of rare vehicles, objects and archival material.

As an accredited learning establishment and tourist attraction, the museum now welcomes around 11,000 visitors every year, including more than a hundred school trips from all over the north west.

Bob added: “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our volunteers, week in week out, Fireground is now one of the leading museums of its kind in the country, and continues to grow. The team thoroughly deserves this award.”

The museum, a registered charity, is open Friday to Sunday each week as well as for special events.