1879-1956
Reuben Barker was a renowned Chief Fire Officer in Wetherby in the early 20th Century and was very proud of the fire engine ensuring it was clean and polished after each call out. On one occasion they got a second call out just after they had returned from the first. Reuben would not let his fire engine attend the second call out until it had been washed. Another story is that Reuben got a call to go to a fire on a remote farm. As it was a long trip Reuben asked the caller to “keep the fire going until we get there!”
