Vice Lord-Lieutenant Jenny Hopkirk and Watch Manager Paul Lillycrop unveil the plaque in the station's appliance bay.

26 March 2009

Amersham Fire Station was officially reopened this afternoon following its £0.5 million redevelopment.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled by Jenny Hopkirk, Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire, and Watch Manager Paul Lillycrop, who has served at the station in Woodside Road for more than 40 years.

They were thanked by Andy Hickmott, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's Deputy Chief Fire Officer.

Mrs Hopkirk said: “Amersham Fire Station has been serving the community from this site since the 1950s, and the work carried out has brought the facilities well and truly into the 21st century. The continued commitment of everyone here is much appreciated by everyone.”

The station’s brand new fire appliance – a nine-litre Scania 94D Rescue Pump delivered only yesterday – was also on show. Click here to see a picture of it.

Mrs Hopkirk said: “The total cost of this fire engine, including all the latest firefighting and rescue equipment it carries, is something in the region of a quarter of a million pounds – although of course fully laden with its cargo of firefighters it’s absolutely priceless.”

Improvement work at the station, completed last year, means that staff now have:

• Separate locker room, kit room, watch room and storage room
• A room for servicing breathing apparatus
• A gym, showers and improved toilet facilities
• A room for training or study sessions with up-to-date ICT facilities
• Designated drying and laundry facilities
• A kitchen/dining area
• Administration offices

During the period of redevelopment the station’s wholetime crews were based at Chesham, with night cover was still provided from Amersham. The Retained Duty System (part-time) crew were housed at GE Healthcare in White Lion Road, Amersham, enabling the contract time to be shortened by six weeks.

Guests included High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire Peter Thorogood and his wife Leonie, Mrs Hopkirk’s husband Paddy, Chiltern District Council Chairman Councillor Philip Priestley and Chief Executive Alan Goodrum, Amersham Town Mayor Martin King, Councillor Pauline Wilkinson MBE from Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority, senior managers from GE Healthcare, senior officers from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, past and present Amersham firefighters and members of the local community.