Cirencester return for 120-year-old brass fire helmet
A Victorian brass fire helmet once issued to a retained fireman in Cirencester has returned home.
The helmet, thought to be about 120 years old, was given to Alfred Richens when he joined Gloucestershire County Fire Service in 1936.
His daughter Josie received it when he died in 1986 but has now given it back to the fire service for safe keeping.
Spokesman Simon McMillan said this was a "great opportunity" to display a bit of Cirencester Fire Station's history.
Josie Ritchens, now in her 70s, emigrated to Australia more than 40 years ago, where she has kept the helmet since her father's death.
She grew concerned it could get lost in the future and so offered it to Cirencester Fire Station through her sister-in-law, Lesley Richens, who still lives in the town.
The helmet was brought back from Australia last year and has just been put on permanent display.