Chance for Norwich firefighters to return ‘home’

Hundreds of Norfolk firefighters will have the chance to return to the iconic central fire station was housed in Norwich for the first time since it closed this week.

NFS spiritual Norwich city centre home was housed in Bethel Street from 1934 until 2011 (pictured), when its distinctive giant folding doors closed to fire engines for the final time and the building eventually became the Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form.

As part of special reunion on 17 July, for the first time since moving out to their new home at Carrow Fire Station in Trowse, firefighters are being invited to return to Bethel Street to see how today's maths and science students are benefiting from the building.

Event organiser Andy Forth said: "We are expecting around 150 to 200 former staff, some of whom are up to 80 years young. We will have a slide show with as many watch and historical photos as possible, and we would love to hear from anyone who might be able to contribute pictures.

"An invite has gone out to all present and retired members who served at Bethel Street, but we want to make sure we haven't missed anybody. For all the firefighters that served at Bethel Street Fire Station, some for more than 30 years, this was their second home. They lived together and supported each other as part of a large team.

"It was a working fire station but also many social functions were held at the station including sports events, dances, open days, and even Christmas parties for the children of the firefighters."

The Head of Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, Rebecca Handley Kirk, said she is delighted to be hosting the event.

"We're keenly aware of the great history the building has and the affection that it is held in. It's a real Norwich icon," she said.

"Our first group of A Level students will be picking up their results this summer, so it seemed a fitting time to look back and remember our heritage as we reach a great milestone for our future. We all owe a debt to the brave firefighters who worked here, and their sense of commitment and duty to our community is a great example to our students."

Many original features of the station were retained in the conversion to Sir Isaac, which is a specialist maths and science sixth form. Two fire poles remain, as do the mess room lockers, and an old shooting range.