Probably visited by as many cruise ship passengers as local people, a jewel in the Inverclyde tourism crown that sits only yards from Greenock Town Hall was a major feature in the recent virtual Doors Open Day.

The Old Victorian Fire Station, housing the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Museum, nestles under Greenock Municipal Buildings and features an impressive array of classic fire engines and other highly prized exhibits. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Museum is a must-see and, hopefully, when and if the effects of the pandemic leave us, many more people will enjoy a close-up look at 4-Star rated attraction.

Pic1:

This pristine example of a 1920's open-top engine was delivered to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Museum in 2011, a year before the place opened its doors to the public for the first time. The Leyland tender was delivered new to Scottish Oils in 1920 and was used as a factory fire engine up until 1968 and eventually arrived here on a ten-year loan from the London Science Museum.

Now in pristine condition, the vehicle has pride of place in the Greenock collection.

Pic2:

Preparations for Greenock's first Festival of Fire in 2015 were well underway by the time this picture of Provost Robert Moran and members of the Scottish Fire Heritage Trust was published.

The shot was set up to tell the public of the event that, on the day, attracted large numbers of visitors to Inverclyde. The old, now highly polished Leyland fire engine made the perfect backdrop for this shot. Provost Moran was always keen to bring some personal magic to a pic, and he was more than happy to don a vintage fireman's hat, the perfect match for his chain of office.

Pic3:

Inverclyde Provost Martin Brenan was photographed beside one of the museum's more unusual exhibits when a book featuring resident Wallace the fire dog was published.

Wallace was reputed to have guided Glasgow fire crews to raging fires as he ran ahead of the speeding engines. This was later disproved, as onlookers realised engine drivers would signal the direction Wallace, their trusty mascot, should take.

Wallace takes pride of place in his glass case, along with a pair of rubber bootees that were made for him by a visitor to his previous resting place at the Central Fire Station in Ingram Street Glasgow.

Pic4:

Retired local group commander David Adam and ex-firefighter Graeme Kirkwood were joined by their team of volunteers to drive this fire tender exhibit across to the Beacon Arts Centre to help bring attention to a charity gala charity concert to be held at the venue. The unique concert featured a link-up between the famous band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Scottish Fire Heritage Trust.

The well-preserved Bedford Fire Warrior water tender ladder made the perfect backdrop for the picture.

Pic5:

Many cruise ship passengers make their way to the fire museum as soon as they set foot on land and a proportion of them are, of course, retired firefighters.

This poignant exhibit featuring an American firefighter's uniform adorned with the Stars and Stripes flag stands beside many other historical items and displays that will capture the imagination of visitors young and old.