RECENT events involving all our emergency services gave me time to reflect on the relationship and common bond that exists between the police in London and the city’s fire brigade.

As a Metropolitan Police officer, my bond was also through family connections as my father-in-law, now deceased, was appointed head of the public relations section of the brigade before retiring on ill-health.

Extracts from a London fireman’s magazine dated 1979 reveal that Britain’s first properly organised municipal fire brigade was that of Edinburgh in 1824.

Chosen to head the brigade was a 23-year-old surveyor, James Braidwood, who chose firemen from trades associations. Pay was £1 per week.

Braidwood was later involved in firefighting in London and in 1834 dealt with a fire at the Houses of Parliament. Despite efforts only Westminster Hall was saved.

In 1841, the Tower of London armoury was destroyed by fire.

Firefighting equipment was found to be in a sorry state.

With the onset of a surge in high rise blocks of flats, have hydraulic platform height specifications been ignored?

Have governments over the years not replaced outdated equipment to save money?

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York