Standing Against the Flames - Ramsgate's Fire Brigade 1938-45

15th August 2026

San Clu Bar & Brasserie

National Fire Service 85th Anniversary Talk at San Clu Hotel

6.30pm - 7.30pm

Join the Ramsgate Tunnels' historian for a special talk marking the 85th anniversary of the formation of the National Fire Service, the forerunner of today’s modern Fire and Rescue Service and discover the history of Ramsgate's Fire Brigade leading up to and during WW2.

This richly illustrated talk will bring to life the story of Ramsgate’s small professional fire brigade in the tense build-up to the Second World War, the rapid establishment of the Auxiliary Fire Service, and their combined efforts on the front line of fire-fighting, before their eventual unification into a single national service.

Along the way, discover more about the equipment they used, the training they underwent, and the vital role they played not only in protecting lives and property, but in supporting one another and the wider community.

Drawing on previously unpublished official records, eyewitness accounts, newspapers, and contemporary photographs, this talk reveals how local firefighters
rose to extraordinary challenges, and adapted to become part of a coordinated national force, earning the title famously bestowed by Winston Churchill: “heroes
with grimy faces.”

Click here to find out more about The San Clu Bar & Brasserie

Tickets and Pricing

£3 per person

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Location

Open Map

Address

Standing Against the Flames - Ramsgate's Fire Brigade 1938-45 San Clu Hotel, Victoria Parade, Ramsgate
CT11 8DT

Contact

admin@ramsgatetunnels.org 01843 588123

Links

Website

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