DO you have stories, pictures or memorabilia about firefighters?

IF you do the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) wants them.

The union will celebrate 100 years since it was founded to represent firefighters and the fire service.

Now the union is asking its members, the public, local newspapers and historians to contribute in the run up to its centenary.

The FBU wants anyone who may have stories, photos or memorabilia related to firefighting or to the union over the past 100 years to get in touch.

The items submitted could be used in a series of publications and events to mark the unions’ centenary.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Our union was built by firefighters, and was born out of firefighters facing very difficult circumstances.

"We want to hear their voices as we develop our centenary celebrations – we have got so much to thank them for. If you know any relatives or friends who spent time in the fire service, why not get them to contact us?”

Mr Wrack said everyone has a story to tell.

He added: "One valuable resource would be a local newspaper who may have an archive of material on firefighters going back years.

"If you have photos, letters, articles, reports or any other records of firefighters please get in touch with us. We would love to hear from you. We want to celebrate our first century as the union heads into its second.”

The FBU centenary project aims to celebrate the work of firefighters over the past century and the role the union has played in developing the service.

If you want to contribute to this project, please email the union on centenary@fbu.org.uk

The first recorded instance of trade union organisation of firefighters was when the Municipal Employees' Association recruited several London County Council firemen in early 1905, which by the end of the following year had grown to a branch of 500.

After the entire branch had transferred to the rival National Union of Corporation Workers (NUCW), the branch grew to 1,100 of the 1,300 London firemen and to protect the then branch secretary from potential dismissal, sub-officer E. W. Southgate handed over branch secretaryship to Jim Bradley, a London park-keeper who had been nominated by the union's executive.

Following the strike of police officers on 29 August 1918, Bradley organised a secret ballot of firemen on the issue of strike action over pay and conditions. After winning the right to a representative board for London firemen, the fire brigade branch of NUCW seceded from the union to join the Firemen's Trade Union, what had been a friendly society for around 200 firemen in private brigades led by George Gamble, with Bradley becoming assistant secretary.

In 1930, the union changed its name to the Fire Brigades Union.