Saving lives in twin city

Cllr Kalvin Neal (left) and Richard Skog of Hull City Council, survey Green Goddesses bound for Freetown

The people of Sierra Leone now have the beginnings of a nationwide fire service thanks to the donation of 30 Green Goddesses.
After years of civil war, which came to an end in 2002, large parts of the West African country have been left with a very limited emergency fire service.
But Hull City Council's help in arranging the donation of vehicles will save lives.
Richard Skog, principal cabinet support officer at the council, said: "The fleet of Green Goddesses was withdrawn from service by the British Government who asked us to arrange the donation.
"We have inside knowledge of the country, owing to our relationship with Freetown, Hull's twin city, which has been built up for more than 25 years.
"This allowed us to make the arrangements for the shipment, and provide the country with the beginnings of a nationwide fire service.
"Without doubt, the Green Goddesses will save lives and help the country's reconstruction from civil war."
The Green Goddesses were stored at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire before leaving Tilbury Docks for the three-week journey to West Africa. They arrived on December 10 – just in time for Christmas.
It was the largest shipment of vehicles undertaken by a local authority to Africa, and achieved at no cost to Hull City Council.
"Green Goddesses are easy to maintain, and they will have no problem getting around Freetown or driving on rough roads up and down the country," added Richard.
"They are also in excellent condition and have low mileage, because they were only used on Britain's streets very occasionally.
"Spare parts will also be shipped out, and we'll provide the training for firefighters who will use the equipment."
Cllr Kalvin Neal, who has responsibility for quality of life, said: "I am proud that Hull City Council arranged the shipment of fire engines to Sierra Leone, a country founded by freed slaves.
"This is all the more significant, given our bicentenary celebrations of Hull-born William Wilberforce, who succeeded in getting his government to abolish slavery across the British Empire." www.wilberforce2007.com *