IF you want to know anything about the history of Wisbech Fire Brigade a trip to the town s library should provide you with all the information you need. On Monday the library acquired two giant books, running to about 1,000 pages, on the brigade, its his

IF you want to know anything about the history of Wisbech Fire Brigade a trip to the town's library should provide you with all the information you need.

On Monday the library acquired two giant books, running to about 1,000 pages, on the brigade, its history and the incidents it dealt with, up to the late 1940s.

The books were presented by their author, George Dunlop, who has spent some 20 years scouring the pages of old newspapers, particularly the Wisbech Standard, for information and stories about the brigade.

Much of his research was carried in the library. He is grateful for the support he received from staff and said this week that it was fitting that the fruits of his labours there should now be available on the library shelves.

The first book, the 450-page Wisbech Fire Brigade: Historical Information 1607-1947, was published a month ago. The second, Wisbech Fire Brigade: Fires, Rescues, Incidents 19845 -1949, was published this week.

Both are dedicated to George's father, Jock Dunlop, a member of Wisbech brigade who died in 1954. The second book deals with major and interesting incidents, including one featuring Jock Dunlop who rescued a drowning woman from Wisbech Canal in the early forties.

Pictured on the front cover of the second book is Captain Horace Friend, chief officer of the borough brigade from 1920 to 1941. George is currently trying to track down Horace Friend's grandson, who, he believes, is a fire officer in Lincolnshire.

George, 66, of Sylvden Drive, Walsoken, still has two more fire service books in the offing, and he hopes both will be available in about a year's time.