It was all smiles in Brough this morning as the long awaited new fire station opened on Saltgrounds Road along the banks of the River Humber.
Crews past and present gathered alongside staff, Members of the Fire Authority, the Mayor of Brough and special guests to see the ribbon cut to officially open the state of the art new station.
Chief Fire Officer Dene Sanders was delighted to see Brough open before his retirement in September:
"This is the third station to open in the last two years and had I stayed a bit longer, then I would have seen a fourth! This is a wonderful new facility - probably the best one yet in terms of its location, facilities and the journey we have gone through to get here.
I want to thank all of those staff and partners who made it happen and pay tribute to the patience of the crews who, without being rude, have had to endure a station over the last few years which wasn't particularly comfortable for them."
The previous station was housed within the BAE Systems site (formerly British Aerospace) next door. CFO Sanders paid tribute to the long relationship with the town's largest employer and a plaque was presented to BAE Systems Head of Health and Safety Andy Forth (pictured centre) to thank the company for their continued support.
Chair of the Fire Authority Councillor John Briggs formally cut the ribbon and echoed the thoughts of the Chief:
"These stations are about the crews and the communities they serve. I wish all of you a long and successful future in this wonderful new facility."
The improved facilities use green technology and purpose built flood barriers to protect the station from potential tidal surges as it lies so close to the River Humber.
Guests were shown around the new building and Watch Manager Ian Johnson was given a real surprise when CFO Sanders announced that the new meeting room would be named the 'Ian Johnson Suite' in recognition of his 44 years and counting at Brough.
Having begun his career with HFRS in 1973, Ian fondly remembers the old days at the former station within the vast aircraft manufacturing site. Today marked the day that a new chapter 'was cleared for take-off' in the story of Brough Fire Station.