Heritage Group Spring Talk 2026

On Friday evening May 1^st 2026 the South Loch Ness Heritage Group held their Spring talk James Braidwood, “Father of the modern fire service”.

The speaker was Diana Hamilton Jones a GG granddaughter of James Braidwood.

 Diana gave an insight to his early life in Edinburgh and his appointment at the age 24 following two major fires in Edinburgh in early 1824 as Superintendent & Master of Engines of the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment (the world’s first municipal fire service).

James recruited and trained men as firefighters adapted and invented fire-fighting equipment, including fire engines, hoses, ladders and uniforms.

By 1830 he wrote the first book in English on recruiting and training of firefighters and methods of fire- fighting which was adopted across the Britian, US and Australia.

In 18932 James was head-hunted to lead the newly formed London Fire Engine Establishment, which in 16^th October 1834 “The Day Parliament Burnt Down”, Jame’s expertise was crucial in saving the medieval Westminster Hall whilst the other buildings were destroyed.

James was tragically killed in June 1862 whilst leading his men on the first day fighting the Great Tooley Street Warehouses Fire, which raged for two weeks destroying millions of pounds work of merchandise.

Diana gave an excellent talk on this forgotten unheralded Scottish hero whose name should be synonymous alongside founders of other professions such as nursing’s Florance Nightingale the Police’s Robert Peel.

 The talk was attended by several local firemen both present and past who helped produce a display board of local fire brigade pictures and fire artifacts to enhance the evening.

 Dianas’ talk is available on the internet for those who missed it .