AFS Bedford Green Goddess SYH-292

Introduced in 1953 as a derivative of the Bedford RL military vehicle, the Bedford RLHZ self-propelled pumper was an Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) "appliance" better known as the Green Goddess.  It was not primarily a fire truck, as its intended role was to pump water out of lakes, rivers, canals, or other places to assist dedicated fire engines in the event of nuclear attack or other emergencies.  During a series of firefighters' strikes in 1977, the 1978-1979 Winter of Discontent, and 2002-2003, the Green Goddesses were driven by military firefighters to replace civilian fire trucks.  Finally superseded by new "appliances," most Green Goddesses have been either scrapped or sold abroad.  SYH-292 was meant to be sent to Montenegro but was bought by Mr. Ian Scales, who drove the truck during the 1977 strike, and donated to the Yorkshire Air Museum.