Haverhill fire engine 'to make history' by being donated to Ipswich Transport Museum
A fire engine that has seen use at both Haverhill and Ixworth fire stations is set to 'make history' by being donated to a museum.
Ipswich Transport Museum received the engine today in preparation for its 'Ride a Fire Engine' day on August 29.
Its donation means the engine, which has a storied history with it having served at 35 stations, will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
The event offers free rides on the museum's engines as well as a selection of visiting machines.
Eddie King, volunteer at Ipswich Transport Museum, thanked Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service for gifting the engine.
He said: “We are immensely grateful to receive this generous donation from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, which will join our collection of emergency vehicles, buses, trams, lorries, cranes and more.
“Fire engines are always incredibly popular with our younger visitors, many of whom want to be firefighters when they grow up, and this latest addition will hopefully inspire them further.”
The vehicle began its service in 2003, being based at Haverhill Fire Station until 2009, when it was transferred to Ixworth.
From April 2017, it was used as a reserve engine before being transferred training facility at Wattisham to train new recruits.
Jon Lacey, Chief Fire Officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, commented on the donation: “I am delighted that our former fire engine will be preserved locally to enable many future generations, including school children, to learn more about the important history of firefighting.”
“It has served Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service well for almost 20 years, and attended countless incidents in this time, but we are now starting to replace older models with state-of-the-art vehicles to benefit from the latest innovations in green technology, as we work towards becoming a net zero authority.”
This isn't the first time Suffolk Fire and Rescue have donated engines.
Back in April, it donated two engines to aid services in Ukraine.
