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4 April 2025
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Bob Hornsby visits the Fire Brigade Museum in Bloemfontein
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On Thursday morning, 20 March 2025, the Mangaung Central Fire Station in Bloemfontein hosted a special guest, 86-year-old Bob Hornsby from Johannesburg.
Bob visited the very same brigade as a twelve year boy in 1950. He photographed the three fire engines that were in service at the time with his box camera. Today, 75 years later, the same three fire engines, box camera and photos are exhibited in the Fire Brigade Museum. Bob’s visit completed the cycle.
Bob grew up in Bloemfontein but left Bloemfontein as a young man to follow a career in the petrochemical industry. Even though he never followed a career in the fire service, he developed a fascination and passion for the Bloemfontein Fire Brigade. During the past 75 years the Bloemfontein (Mangaung) Fire brigade owned a total of 36 fire engines. With the exception of three fire engines that were written off after accidents and a few that is still operation today, the rest did duty between 12 and 33 years before retiring to the museum. He did not only photograph each of the 36 fire engines but also kept a record of each engine, technical data and application. Bob thus regularly visited Bloemfontein and remained in contact with the relevant staff members. Initially, he corresponded by mail. Later years, he communicated via WhatsApp and social media.
In 1976, he photographed the five fire engines that were operational at Central Fire Station. 30 years later in 2006, the same five fire engines were placed on the apron in front of the fire station. The vehicles that replaced them were parked behind them. 10 years later in 2016, the exercise was repeated. This time there were three rows of fire engines.
Due to circumstances, Bob did not visit Bloemfontein for the past four years. His daughter, who is currently visiting from the USA, brought him and his wife to Bloemfontein. With the result, Bob was able to photograph the last two vehicles that were issued to Mangaung Fire Brigade. Therefore, he has bragging rights as the photographer of all fire engines in service the past 75 years in Bloemfontein.
He is indeed our biggest fan!
Source: Braam van Zyl, divisional officer and Curator Fire Brigade Museum, Mangaung Fire and Rescue Services
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Bob visited the very same brigade as a twelve year boy in 1950. He photographed the three fire engines that were in service at the time with his box camera. Today, 75 years later, the same three fire engines, box camera and photos are exhibited in the Fire Brigade Museum. Bob’s visit completed the cycle.
Bob grew up in Bloemfontein but left Bloemfontein as a young man to follow a career in the petrochemical industry. Even though he never followed a career in the fire service, he developed a fascination and passion for the Bloemfontein Fire Brigade. During the past 75 years the Bloemfontein (Mangaung) Fire brigade owned a total of 36 fire engines. With the exception of three fire engines that were written off after accidents and a few that is still operation today, the rest did duty between 12 and 33 years before retiring to the museum. He did not only photograph each of the 36 fire engines but also kept a record of each engine, technical data and application. Bob thus regularly visited Bloemfontein and remained in contact with the relevant staff members. Initially, he corresponded by mail. Later years, he communicated via WhatsApp and social media.
In 1976, he photographed the five fire engines that were operational at Central Fire Station. 30 years later in 2006, the same five fire engines were placed on the apron in front of the fire station. The vehicles that replaced them were parked behind them. 10 years later in 2016, the exercise was repeated. This time there were three rows of fire engines.
Due to circumstances, Bob did not visit Bloemfontein for the past four years. His daughter, who is currently visiting from the USA, brought him and his wife to Bloemfontein. With the result, Bob was able to photograph the last two vehicles that were issued to Mangaung Fire Brigade. Therefore, he has bragging rights as the photographer of all fire engines in service the past 75 years in Bloemfontein.
He is indeed our biggest fan!
Source: Braam van Zyl, divisional officer and Curator Fire Brigade Museum, Mangaung Fire and Rescue Services
Quote of the week
“You don’t have to be great to start but you have to start to be great.” ~ Zig Ziglar
Fire and Rescue International is your magazine.
Read it, use it and share it!
Read the latest FRI magazine: https://www.frimedia.org/fri-vol-7-no-5.html
Read the latest Disaster Management Journal: https://www.frimedia.org/dmj-vol-6-no-1.html
FRI magazine archive: https://www.frimedia.org/fri-archives.html
DMJ magazine archive: https://www.frimedia.org/dmj-magazine.html
Enjoy the read!
Lee Raath-Brownie
Managing director
Cell: 082 371 0190
Contact us
Tel: 011 452 3135 or Email: [email protected]
Websites
www.fireandrescue.co
www.frimedia.org
www.facebook.com/FireandRescueInternational
www.twitter.com/FRI_magazine
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-raath-brownie-16668065/