0:00:20 > 0:00:22This story belongs to James
0:00:22 > 0:00:24and his Papa Jim.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32It's a tiny tale about Papa Jim and the things he used to do.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39Now it's time for him to share his memories
0:00:39 > 0:00:42and take James on a journey of discovery.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00What are you doing? Playing at firemen?
0:01:00 > 0:01:04If you're going to play at it, you're better if you look like one.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Whoa, that's a real fireman's helmet!
0:01:07 > 0:01:10When you go into fires, things fall off roofs,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13and you've got to have it for protection.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15If there's slates or...
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Papa Jim used to be a fireman.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Did you drive a fire engine?
0:01:20 > 0:01:24I did, yes. I used to drive it when I was in the south.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28I drove after my training. After about a year,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30I started to drive fire engines.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- Did you used to climb ladders? - Yes, I did.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35We used to put the ladders up
0:01:35 > 0:01:37when we couldn't get through doors
0:01:37 > 0:01:40and get people out through windows.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42They chatted some more,
0:01:42 > 0:01:46and then it was time for Papa Jim to take James on an adventure.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51James is going to have so much fun.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Papa Jim used to work on a farm.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Papa, why did you become a fireman?
0:02:01 > 0:02:06In those days, I worked on the farms, which was a very hard job.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Papa Jim thought life would be easier away from the farm,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17and decided to join the Fire Service.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20But he soon discovered that his new job was just as hard.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24It was hard work, the training, especially.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29That was the fittest you would ever be,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32running about, up and down ladders.
0:02:32 > 0:02:33In the Fire Service,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37we had what we called dummies - big dolls we made ourselves.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42We made them heavy, sewed Wellingtons on the end, to look like people.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45We put them on our backs and carried them up and down,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48kidding on we were rescuing them.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52They practised rescuing people and putting out fires,
0:02:52 > 0:02:54to prepare them for the real thing.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01In the olden days, there were lots more fire stations.
0:03:01 > 0:03:07In fact, there was one in every high street in every town.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10It was in the fire station where Papa Jim met
0:03:10 > 0:03:13a very special person, who James knows very well.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15This is my gran!
0:03:16 > 0:03:20Gran Marilyn also worked for the Fire Service
0:03:20 > 0:03:23in this building, which is now a restaurant.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28It used to be Glasgow's Central Fire Station.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30Look at this old picture.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32How different they look!
0:03:32 > 0:03:37The firemen and their fire engines are ready to go to the rescue.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Today, Papa Jim has taken James back to the old fire station.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48That's where your gran used to work. It was called the watch room.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Time for a fireman's lift, James.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Where are they now?
0:03:58 > 0:04:00What was in here, Papa?
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Well, this used to be the machines in here.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07The fire engines were all in here.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Through the back door, we used to get the fire engines cleaned.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Where did the pole used to be, Papa?
0:04:14 > 0:04:18The poles came down from the canteen to the back of the station.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Let's go and see some real fire engines.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23What a good idea, Papa Jim.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37In days gone by, people used to burn coal to heat their homes.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42And sometimes, accidents happened and houses would go on fire.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Papa Jim and his buddies would come dashing to the fire,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49bells all ringing and lights flashing, to save the day.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54With hoses and ladders, and those big, thick boots and helmets,
0:04:54 > 0:04:58they put out the flames and made it safe for everyone.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02What a good job!
0:05:10 > 0:05:12But what about those fire engines?
0:05:12 > 0:05:17These are some models of fire engines. See this one here?
0:05:17 > 0:05:21When I started, that's the kind of fire engine I went to fires in.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25This big one here, when I used to drive them,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28it had a big long ladder on it with wheels.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32I used to sit in there and drive the fire engines.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Papa, these are only toys. You said we could see real fire engines.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Oh, well, wait a minute, then.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43OK. So where are they?
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Right, come here. We'll see what's behind these doors.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55You wanted to see real fire engines. Right, there you go.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Now you're talking, Papa Jim.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Look at that, then. How does that...? Eh?
0:06:00 > 0:06:04There's the old uniforms, like your Papa used to wear.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08That nice, shiny helmet. We had to clean all of our equipment.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11The old boots that the men wore.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16I used to have a tunic like that, and you saw my axe earlier on.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Wait a minute, until we see what's in here.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Oh, it's a length of hose. Look.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27That's the nozzle, where the water comes out.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29You carry that into the fire.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33We'll see what's in here. More hose in here, there you go.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38And look at these. These are brass. Feel the weight of that!
0:06:38 > 0:06:41Oh, it's heavy!
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Is it heavy, is it?
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Watch your head.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49What's in there, Papa?
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Oh, I don't know. You better open it and see.
0:06:52 > 0:06:53Oh, look that at this.
0:06:56 > 0:06:57See this cupboard here?
0:06:57 > 0:07:00If we can't get into a fire,
0:07:00 > 0:07:04we use these tools to break in so we can put the fire out.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Right, close the locker. That's it.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12There you go. Come on, I'll show you something else.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18Well, you wanted to see a real fire engine.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20What do you think of this one? Eh?
0:07:20 > 0:07:21HE LAUGHS
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Do you quite like this one, do you?
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Right, I tell you what. See that button right at the top?
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Press it down hard. Press it down.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33BELL RINGS
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Oh, hello! What was that?
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Right, press it down.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42BELL RINGS
0:07:57 > 0:08:00He's a bit of a monkey, Papa Jim.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03He loves to mess about in the old firemen's uniforms.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05From fine and fancy...
0:08:09 > 0:08:11..to plain and simple...
0:08:15 > 0:08:18..to grand and very, very special.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26And what is Papa Jim up to now?
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Ah, I see.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31For protection in the thick, dark smoke,
0:08:31 > 0:08:35they wore a mask to breathe and walked a very special funny walk
0:08:35 > 0:08:38to test the floor for danger in the dark.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55BELL RINGS
0:08:55 > 0:08:58When the fire engines got too old to fix,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01they got newer, bigger, better ones.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04They were faster, stronger and safer,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08and they got there even quicker when the fires were blazing.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Look at all that smoke!
0:09:21 > 0:09:26Papa Jim and Grandma Marilyn had a son called Ross. He's James' dad.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29And you'll never guess. He's a fireman, too.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31See those doors?
0:09:31 > 0:09:36Do you remember the size of the little doors at Greenock?
0:09:36 > 0:09:41Well, the fire engines nowadays would never get in those little doors,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44so they have to make really big doors.
0:09:44 > 0:09:45You'll see.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Where to now, Papa Jim?
0:09:49 > 0:09:52- This is my dad. - Look at you, Fireman James!
0:09:52 > 0:09:56I hear you've been looking at old fire engines and equipment.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- Yeah.- I'll show you some new stuff. Come with me.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Now, what we've got in here...
0:10:08 > 0:10:15I believe Papa had been showing you some old breathing apparatus sets.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Well, this is the new ones that we use.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22In this pack here, we've got compressed air,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25and how we breathe it is through this mask.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- Would you like to try it on? - Yeah.- OK.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32If you take the helmet off, Papa.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34The mask helps you breathe safely,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37when there's lots of smoke and fumes.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41When we go into a fire job, we put this over our face, like so.
0:10:41 > 0:10:47And then we put that round the back of our head. How does that feel?
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Looking good, James!
0:10:50 > 0:10:53OK. Now, I'll show you something else.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01This is a thermal imaging camera.
0:11:01 > 0:11:07Now, if we get Papa to stand back a bit, we can look through this.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10What this shows you is body heat. Can you see Papa?
0:11:10 > 0:11:14- We can see the hot bits in his body. You see his face?- Yeah.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- How it's all white?- Yeah. - What do you think?
0:11:17 > 0:11:19- Good, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23So when we come into a smoky room, we're able to find you.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Oh, that's clever.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- How was that?- Good.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33Now, come with me. I've got something else to show you.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40I hear Papa gave you a fright with the bell in the old fire engine.
0:11:40 > 0:11:45- Yeah.- How about we give him a fright? You press that button.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52SIREN WAILS
0:11:59 > 0:12:04Papa Jim is now retired and no longer works as a fireman.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07But he hasn't forgotten how to use a hose.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12And that's dad, Ross, wearing his helmet and joining in the fun.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17Right, we're going to try and knock the bucket off.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Papa Jim still loves the firefighting ways.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22He knows how to use a hose,
0:12:22 > 0:12:26and how to show his grandson to practise to get better.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Wait until your dad picks the bucket up.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32We'll try and hit the bucket. Ready? Pull back.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Now we put it up there. And knock the bucket off.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39And to soak James' dad wet through!
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Way to go, James!
0:12:50 > 0:12:53What a day for James!
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Thanks, Papa, for a great day.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59- You're welcome. Did you enjoy yourself?- Yeah.- That's good.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03I enjoyed myself, too, seeing all the old fire engines
0:13:03 > 0:13:07and uniforms that I wore and the new stuff that your daddy wears.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11- So, what are you going to be when you grow up?- Fireman.
0:13:11 > 0:13:16A fireman? Oh, well, I think I can see a new story starting here.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19So, what was the best bit today?
0:13:19 > 0:13:23- Soaking my dad with the hose. - Oh, soaking your dad with the hose.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27I might have known! You're just like your dad.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31What a fabulous heap of fun.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35That was James and Papa Jim's tiny tale about the things
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Papa Jimmy used to do and the fun he had,
0:13:38 > 0:13:42and why he has a shiny yellow fireman's helmet.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Papa Jim has shared his story with James
0:13:45 > 0:13:48and now James is starting his own story.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Do you know someone with a story to share?
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd