HR Fire celebrates its 50th Anniversary!
Everyone at HR Fire & Safety is proud to reach our 50th Anniversary, having been officially formed on the 2nd November 1976 – a long time ago!
Harry Webster Snr started his working life at a large fire equipment company called George Angus in Bentham, North Yorkshire. He moved to a small company called J Gathercole but things didn’t quite work out for Harry and so he decided to set up his own company.
He deliberated over the name of the new business, finally settling on H. R. Fire and Safety Ltd. This was a combination of his and his wife’s name (Harry and Ruth). So with little but a briefcase and one month’s wage he started off on his new path.
Over the years he slowly built up the business, gaining some quite distinguished customers in the early years such as British Gas, Kingfisher Lubrication, Dunlop, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Sam and John Smiths and also supplying fire supplies to Leeds and Bradford Airport Fire station. He also maintained a steady increase in service contracts with shops, offices, bars etc.
As his workload increased, Harry needed help in the company and a secretary and engineer were employed, with Steve Potter becoming Harry’s first employee and also becoming a friend in the process. He also needed an office and workshop and another friend, George Newsome, offered him an office within his building and helped Harry out in those early years, again forming friendships with the Newsome family that continue to this day.
There have been the usual ups and downs throughout the years, with many members of staff passing through the doors of H.R. Fire and Safety, most staying for a good considerable time. Incidentally, we now reside in the building across the road from where we first started in 1976.
Harry’s son Darren who had spent his six weeks’ holiday from school working for the company, joined full time in 1991. Darren took over the running of the company when Harry needed more time to look after Ruth who by then was suffering from dementia. Harry Webster Junior, the third generation of the family, joined the company in 2022 and is gradually taking on a more senior role.
Sadly, Harry Webster Senior passed away in December 2025, with Ruth Webster also passing away in June 2026. Although he missed our 50th anniversary year, Harry Webster Senior’s legacy lives on with his son and grandson looking after the company.
Our doors will be closed on Monday the 2nd November, so we can raise a glass and celebrate a milestone in the company’s history. We are very proud of what we have all achieved together and thank everyone who has been on that journey with us.