FOREWORD

Looking back through its history Stokes Valley can count itself one of the most fortunate communities in the country. Fifty years ago a handful of residents decided a fire brigade was needed and over the half century since, that brigade has been a steadfast centre around which most of the valley's life and development has revolved.

So many times it was said ''Ask the brigade, they'll fix it.''

As this editorial records, the early brigade developed persuasion to an art form and nearly 40 years ago it was that art that enticed me into my first association, photographing mayoral contest candidates. And as evidenced by this contribution, it never really lets go of you.

THE FIRST TEN YEARS

The first ten years of the brigade had been more than eventful, including hard times raising the necessary finance to obtain suitable equipment. Always on the county council's doorstep trying to extract more money and finding that unfortunately Stokes Valley Fire Brigade was not the only organisation seeking grants from the rather meagre rates return of those days. However, much had been achieved and the brigade thought that the milestone of the first decade should be suitably celebrated in style. Accordingly, in April 1949 George Walker moved that a committee of four be elected to explore the raising of funds for a 10-year do. Those elected were George Walker, the recently appointed secretary, Ian Corbett, Len Wright and Dick Ward. At this time the brigade had a balance sheet surplus of 210 pounds 19 shillings and sixpence. Not a bad nest egg for a do. Now it was back to raffles and the odd paying jobs again.

FIRES

The biggest fire attended by Stokes Valley fire brigade was at the Gracefield industrial complex when four acres of buildings were totally burnt out. It began at 4.45pm on February 14, 1958. Some of the companies which were heavy losers were Southward Engineering, Cable Price, the Forestry Department, Civil Aviation, Imperial Chemical Industries, Liscarth Engineering. A huge amount of tobacco, held under bond, was also destroyed.

Stokes Valley Brigade attended from about 6pm to 4am next morning and from about 9am to 3pm the next day. Appliances were rushed to the scene from Wellington Central, Newtown, Thorndon, Lower Hutt, Petone and Lower Hutt outstations including Stokes Valley. At the height of the blaze flames from the Imperial Chemical building reached 200 feet into the air. The overall loss was millions of pounds. A very large sum during 1958. Other major call-outs were to a plastics factory at Rata Street, Naenae, January 9, 1968 at 9.15pm; Tui Glen School, Stokes Valley February 6, 1972 at 3.48am when a prefab room was totally destroyed and the wall of an adjoining room was burnt out, this fire was considered to be arson, and loss at about $9500; Glassform Industries, Western Hutt Road, Lower Hutt June 22, 1872 at 7.3Oam, with a loss of thousands of dollars; Stokes Valley RSA club rooms gutted, July 2, 1973, 9.43pm, loss estimated to be in excess of $70,000 with many cups, trophies, medals and souvenirs lost; Caltex Oil Installations, Seaview, Lower Hutt, on January 1, 1977; Taita Central School, on February 2, 1979; Expandite Factory, Waione Street, Petone, November 21, 1980, 11.47pm, where the loss was approximately $1,000,000; Pilkington Glass Factory, Taita, on October 10, 1984 6.45pm, estimated loss $1,000,000.