On Friday 18th November 2022, we said farewell to Mick, and, on his final shout, he was carried carefully on the back of 240FLM which was indeed fitting as Mick had previously served at the old B29 New Cross fire Station, original home of 240FLM, from 1964 to 1969.
Michael ( Mick) joined the brigade in 1963 aged 22 after moving to London from Ireland where, after his initial training at Lambeth HQ, was posted to the then C40 (latterly post 1965- B29 New Cross) where he came to know 240FLM well as his service included TL training and operating this very appliance.

Family and friends gathered at the crematorium in Beckenham South London were very aware of this so there was a tremendous feeling of gratitude towards what we have done to bring the appliance back to life and what we endeavour to do now.
A very moving event for all of us.

Please note that these images are all copyright protected and supplied to us by Dave Porter, Steve Houston and Micks family.

On Wednesday 9th November 2022, we were priveleged to be able to carry a former colleague, Roger Steggles, London Fire Brigade. on his last shout to Breakespeare Crematorium, Ruislip.
On a bright winter day, there was a wonderful turnout of serving and former colleagues waiting for Roger as he arrived amid a parade of firefighters from G31 Northolt and G32 Ruislip along with their appliances.

Many of our group had known Roger and had served with him so it was a very poignant event for us and everone in attendance was delighted that he had arrived in traditional style, on the back of a London Fire Brigade Turntable Ladder-240FLM.

The group are particularly grateful to the LFB Borough and Station Commander and all the personnel at G32 Ruislip for accomodating us prior to the event for an element of the proceedings.

The group are grateful to Ivan Barefield, Graham Pearce & Dave Porter for the images and we respectfully remiond you that all are subject to the standard copyright rules applicable in the UK

On Tuesday 4th October 2022, 240FLM headed just the short distance north from its base in Romford up the A12 to Chelmsford Fire Station ready to collect our late brother, Sub Officer Peter Mcann. Peter had last served at Ilford Fire station.
We were warmly recieved by the duty watch there and the cameraderie we associate with the Fire Service was again evident.

A wonderful and touching parade took place at the Fire Station as 240FLM departed and made the short journey to the crematorium. On arrival, we were met by former watch colleagues who, suitably dressed in the firegear of the period, carried Peter into the service accompanied by a piper.

We were delighted to be able to support our " Base" station, F38 Romford at their 2022 open day on Bank Holiday monday, 29th August.  With lovely weather prevailing, the crowds were in abundance and 240FLM was displayed in her " semi staircase" pitch position. The whole crowd were wowed by the equipment, demonstartions and inevitable ice cream that were available and it was another memorable day for all the right reasons.

A wonderful turnout of former colleages, family and friends were in attendance at Enfield Crematorium on the 26th August where we said goodbye to Fireman Ken "Soggy" Rogers, formally of J21 Edmonton blue watch. 240FLM carried Ken on his last shout in glorious sunshine which was befitting a much loved character.

The preceeding week had seen one of the final stages in the restoration of 240FLM. During that week, the final graphics had been applied to the exterior of the vehicle and these included the London Fire Brigade scripts, LCC crests, vehicle weight and tyre pressures so by the time the appliance set off for Enfield after a polish, she looked absolutely beautiful.

On arrival at Enfield, we were allowed the prime spot on the front forecourt and were soon joined by one of the new LFB Metz, 32metre Turntable ladders which provided a wonderful "then and now" comparison during the day.

Each ladder put on a demonstration for the crowds who flocked all over the appliances as well as taking in the other, many attractions available.

Next week, the 29th August 2022 at 1300 until 1600, 240FLM will be making another public appearance, this time at its "home" at Romford Fire Station where the station open day will be taking place. Why not pop along and say hello?

We respectfully remind you that all the images we use toillustrate our announcemebnts are copyright to the individual photographers. In this case, Pete Weight, Dave Porter, Graham Pearce and Steve Houston.

Small but valuable progress continues with the last phase of the restoration of 240FLM.

Over the last 2 months, replacement and stronger timbers have been added to the framework that supports the roof of the pump housing. This roof section holds the 4, very heavy hose ramps and it was felt that the original timbers were perhaps just not going to provide the longevity needed. At the same time and with the recent discovery of another historic photograph, we could see that the hose ramp retaining straps needed to be laid in a slightly diferent way so we took the opportunity to correct this.

Work has continued with the refitting of the many and varied brackets in the lockers and it is quite a puzzle to determine "what goes where". Obviously, some brackets just simply suit a particular piece of equipment whereas others will fit a variety of items. It is just going to take time to get this right, especially as the appliance inventory evolved over its 15 years of service with equipment changes.
The nearside locker is just about finished, as is the rear hose locker. The offside foot locker has all its bottom fittings in place and that just leaves the top hangers to fit, however, this is going to be a real challenge  as its an awkward location for getting to and actually screwing things in, especially at our ages!
Hopefully we will have that lot finished by the end of August at which point we can complete the restow.

One of the hydraulic jacks continues to give us problems with unexplained oil leaks so we are working on a process of elimination as to what the cause is. 

The group were proud to have been able to take 240FLM down to Roehampton in West London to support the charity event being staged by the Firefighters Charity. The golf and information event was set up to allow visitors to come and get a first hand account of life as a firefighter today, and in years gone by and our applinace complimented a brand new LFB Pump. That crew put on a really interesting demonstration of their skills for the visitors to enjoy.

Although we are still to get the vehicle logos back on ( but we do at last have the crests), the group have undertaken a number of requested event recently so work has gone on the get the vehicle prepared accordingly. The operators consul has now been fully repainted and looks wonderful and original. A range of small trims were cleaned and rapidly re attached and a niggly electronic fault rectified, again!.
We would respectfully like to remind you that copyright to the images are strictly with the photographers, Pete Weight, Dave Porter and no unauthorised copying or reproduction is permitted.

240FLM was in attendance to complement the day at the Sidcup Fire Station open day. A good crowd of adults and children had a brilliant day squirting water and comparing the old and the new.

Please note that all images are copyright of photographers Dave Porter and Gary Quinnell. No unauthorised reproduction is permitted.

We were proud to have been able to support the family of the late Michael Redmond at his funeral in Willesden NW London on the 27th May 2022. Michael had been the senior fire officer at a local company in Harlesden for many years.
The courtege was accompanied all the way from his house to a waiting guard of honour outside Willesden Fire Staion in Pound lane en route to the servcie nearby.

Please note that all images are copyright to photographers Dave Porter , Pete Cowland and Paul Wing. No unauthorised reproduction is permited

Its always the final details that take the most time and, with our project, that is very true.  A series of working party days have taken place recently and real progress continues to be made. the final few elements that need painting are now either completed or in progress.
The most significant item is the operators control consul on the nearside rear of the appliance and at which the operator sits to control all aspects of the ladders when in use.  This on first appearance was in overall good exterior condition, however, once the sandpaper came out, it was clear that nothing less than a full respray would be required. We hadn't really anticipated this so it has somewhat slowed our progress but it would be foolish to ignore it after getting this far. It hasn't helped that it is made of 2 different metals whcih each require a different paint appraoch so a real time taker has popped up.

Most of the consul internal workings had been refurbished or replaced over the last 5 years including the communications system between the consul and head of ladder, the rotating tapes on the instruments that display all the vital information such as extension and angle of pitch have been replaced and the whole mechanism serviced. the final part is the replacement of the 2 small bulbs at the top which illuminate the panel at nightime, these are now being replaced with modern LED of the correct colour temperature to replicate the original bicycle lamp style bulbs and screw holders that are utterly rotten!

The dozens of aluminium and steel trims and extrusions are still being hand cleaned and reattached all around the appliance and real dedication for this has been required as its an onerous task.  Final hand painting of all the door "shuts" and door leading and trailing edges is in progress so that the whole vehicle is finally, after 30 years , all the same and correct colour.

The hose ramp frame on the top of the pump housing has now been repainted to the correct colour and reinstated which just leaves the retaining straps and brackets to paint and refit.
All of the above has resulted in an unexpexted delay in putting the appliance " on the run" again but we feel that by the end of next week we should be able to resume some duties.

Finally, when the 6 appliances in the ordered batch were initially supplied to the Brigade in April 1964, they were given sequential fleet numbers from 237FLM getting 37TL through to 242FLM getting 42TL, later on, this was altered to TLP ( 40TLP as an example) to indicate the appliance carried an onboard pump and finally, much later in its service, the LFB applied a new set of fleet numbers throughout and 240FLM finally became TL23P.  Our decisions have always been based on first issue so it was fitting that we finally reinstated its 40TL fleet number and a repainted Merryweather rear badge.

We would courteously remind you that the images here are all copyright protected to Pete Weight and Dave Porter and we appreciate your support in not using them for reproduction,hire, rental or gain without our express permission. many thanks as ever.

​The last couple of weeks have seen continued progress with reinstatement of the dozens of trims and fittings which were removed prior to the external respray. All of them have required various levels of restoration including a good clean and polish, as you would imagine, this is a slow tedious job but well worth it when the trim goes back on the appliance.
Also, the lockers continue to be refitted with their original brackets and the equipment is now starting to find its historic home, but not without an awful lot of head scratching about " what went where". We only have our vague memories and some images we took when we originally stripped the old lockers out. However, none of those guarentee that we get it right each time so its a rather complicated jigsaw puzzle at the moment.
Steady progress being made, as we used to say in the LFB!
Please note that we respectfully remind you that all the images we use to illustrate our journey are copyright exclusive to the group members who capture them. No unauthorised copying, reproduction or other use is permitted. many thanks.
In this case, the images were taken by Dave Porter and Pete Weight.

With the pandemic starting to gently ease and restrictions being lifted, the resumption of work on 240FLM has begun. A number of working parties have taken place during February and March following the return of the appliance from the painters. The main thrust of the works have been to clean and reinstate the many metal trims, exterior fitments and body parts that needed to be removed before the preparation could be done. Cleaning the parts has been pretty laborious and with everything having to be done by hand, it has become a labour of love, rather like any restoration!.
Notwithstanding that, attention has also been turned to the 3 lockers and also the door frames on the front cab. The lockers have now been brought to a full paint finish and a start has been made on refitting the numerous brackets that carry all the equipment. This has been thought provoking as we only have a set of photos that we took the day we stripped the original lockers down, and our rather vague memories of "what went where" ! Of course, some items by default will only fit in certain locations and, given that Turntable Ladders really didn't carry to much equipment, we feel that by the end of this process, we will have restored the locker layouts almost exactly as they were on original issue.
The first locker item to be reinstated has been the TL Rescue/Lowering line on its cradle,harness & guide lines. This was an easy one as we all remembered where that went and with the orginal pictures, it has gone straight in on new fittings which was hand made in house.
The remaining items will be fitted over the next few weeks.

On the mechanical side, the starter motor has undergone an overhaul and a new drive belt sourced and fitted and the second chains to each of the foot locker doors have been fitted which now provides the full strength required to hold up the foot locker doors.

As ever, one of the hydraulic jacks has developed a leak, a problem we are now very familiar with, so the fix will be a strip down and reseal where required so not an overly onerous task.

Due to the continuing shortage of attendees on the working parties caused by ill health, family commitments and other issues, the progress has been slower than expected and thus the appliance will not now be back on the run until the end of April at the earliest.
Photos copyright: Dave Porter, Steve Houston, Pete Weight, Colin Farrington. 240FLM.

The team gathered for the first time since the return of 240FLM from the paint shop to begin the process of cleaning all the dressing pieces of aluminium and steel that had been removed before the appliance was taken in for a respray. Concurrently, a professional company attended to remove the 67 year old windscreen and fit a new rubber seal as the original was well past its usefulness and was clearly on its last legs.
Several other jobs were progressed with the electrics to the rear number plate being upgraded to modern LED and the persistent problem of the front cab doors misalignment has now been addressed. Ash fillet pieces have been crafted and the final few pieces should be fitted soon. The problem had been that the original timber under the alloy skins was no longer providing sufficient grab on the fixings for the hinges so it was proving impossible to pull the doors back into their original positions and stop the awful draughts! With the fillets installed and painted, the closures will once again look correct and hopefully the cab will be wind and water tight.
The hand cleaning of all the removed alloy trims is well underway prior to the refit, however, it was felt that mechanical cleaning will be required for some as they are very tarnished so that is in hand for the next working party.
With storm Eunice approaching, it was a day cut slightly short so that members could head off home before the weather deteriorated but nevertheless, a very productive day.
Some pictures below suggest the quality of the finish we now have to the exterior and a full report will be published once the appliance is fully rebuilt. It would be fair to say that as a group, we are VERY pleased.

Images are copyright Peter Weight. 240FLM TL preservation group.
​

240FLM was in attendance to accompany the late, Neil Townsend, retired Divisonal Offer LFB on his final journey near Gravesend in Kent. Another sad day but a duty that we take pride in doing for our former colleagues.

During the latter part of 2021, it became apparent that a revised means of accessing the rear cab for potential users was needed.
We had been using a sturdy hand made set of, single tread, non platform steps and which had served us well. However, we recognised that a wedding dress user might just struggle with those, so, committee member Dave Porter set about manufacturing a set of steps which could be set up quickly, be stable and wide, have enough steps at a shallow angle to ensure safe transit but all this whilst being collapsible to allow for easy transport in the cab.

The result is below and is a fine example of what can be achieved with a bit of ingenuity.

​Photo copyright Dave Porter.

Notwithstanding the difficulties we are all experiencing with the pandemic, small teams of dedicated members have continued to make sure that 240FLM is kept roadworthy and that the restoration and mechanical repairs are undertaken.

Despite the obvious limitations, some essential works have been completed and these include a main engine service, repairs to the front door frames and replacing some damaged or missing bolts from the rear jack covers.

A crew of 2 delivered 240FLM to Eastry, near Sandwich in Kent for the wedding of one of the 4 watch Commanders based at F38 Romford where 240FLM is kept. We were delighted to be able to provide the appliance as a backdrop to the group photos.
The journey to the venue was slow and challenging due to the access road leading to the venue being rather narrow, but, as the appliance is being resprayed in a short while, a few minor scratches were not worth worrying about.  Photos copyright and courtesy of Steve Houston.

On the 25th November 2021, 240FLM set off on a long but worthwhile and honourable journey to Gloucester crematorium in Gloucestershire where we were able to provide an escort for the final journey of "Jim" Geogehan.
Jim was one of our founder members and had often appeared when 240FLM was in his area and always showed a keen interest in the progress of the restoration. Joining the LFB in 1969, Jim served in the old A and C Divisions before arriving as Sub Officer at K22 Wandsworth where he encountered 240FLM after her move from B29 New Cross. A good turnout of old colleagues was present to say farewell to a lovely gentle giant and very respected officer and fireman.
We also wish to express our gratitude to Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service for allowing us the privilege of overnight parking for the appliance at Gloucester North Community Fire Station.

Photos courtesy and copyright, Dave Porter, Steve Houston and Pete Weight.

Our services were provided to escort the last journey of the late Fireman Roger Cunningham who had served at Poplar & east Ham Fire Stations during his career in the London Fire Brigade.

Roger was carried with dignity and poise into the venue in Eltham, SE London, by several of his former colleagues, all suitably dressed in the uniforms of the day.

Once again we were pleased to have been able to support and participate in the most recent London Fire Brigade station openday at the new Plaistow Fire Station venue at Prince Regents Lane, East London.
On a beautiful winter Sunday, our crew delivered a sparkling appliance to sit in amongst a nice array of modern appliances, Police service vehicles and other emergency services attendees.

​The day was enhanced with a practical demonstration of the methods used by todays firefighters to remove injured persons from crashed vehicles.

All the pictures below were captured by Dave Porter and Colin Farrington and as such are copyright to them, no unautorised copying or publication is permitted without their express permission.

​Although still somewhat limited by the pandemic and various other restrictions. A regular team from the mechanical side of the group have been busy carrying out routine maintenance and fitting replacement parts where needed.
One particular issue with 240FLM has always been the tendency for the appliance to " wander" whilst in motion. This problem is not unique to this vehicle as this fleet of appliances, and probably other vehicles as well, always did have a somewhat loose feel. 
Last year, we were able to obtain quite a number of original parts from another vehicle that was being broken up, one of those parts was a new steering box. over a number of visits, the team managed to extract, with great difficulty, the old one and insert the replacement, which although still old, subsequently proved to be much " tighter making for a more comfortable and precise drive.


Earlier on in the late summer, attention was drawn yet again to one of the 4 hydraulic jacks that are put down to support the body of the vehicle when the ladder is to be got to work. This time, the nearside rear jack was showing signs of an oil leak. The team are now well used to this and replacement seals are still available so without to much fuss, the jack was opened up and the job completed.

Another area  which received attention was the foot locker catches. They had begun to get a little difficult to open cleanly so a little time with a chisel and screwdriver and they once again work easily.

The rear jack seal replacement.