A 33-tonne fire truck threw grieving engineer a life-line

So the heavy plant mechanic went looking for a restoration project.

What he wanted was a Dennis fire engine from the 1980s, the kind of machine that was stationed in many small towns.

But what he ended up with was a 33-tonne Marlin airport fire truck, complete with a foam canon, which last saw service at Bournemouth Airport.

And this one is thought to be the only remaining example of the nine that were built.

As a child Stewart obsessed with tractors but he always had a soft spot for a fire engine. “I’m a big kid like most men are to be honest, but we don’t like to admit it.”

He saw the former Marlin advertised online and went to take a look.

It was clear the task of saving it from the scrapyard and restoring it to something like its former glory would take years.

And he wasn’t sure he could find anywhere suitable to keep it.

Finally it was transported to a friend’s farm when the full scale of the work needed became apparent.

Coupled with the expected cost rising from about £20,000 to the £60,000-mark, was something of a challenge.

But a challenge was just what he needed. “It allowed me to really throw myself into it,” he said.

“When I bought it I didn’t understand how unusual, how rare it was. It was probably ground-breaking when it was built in 1989. It was extremely sophisticated and it is a real testament to the people who designed and built it.”

But the Marlin is still something of a mystery.

The firm that built it went bust years ago and no plans seem to exist. He’s hoping someone somewhere has a copy of the electrical diagrams.

Already Stewart has received helpful information from firefighters that used the truck as well as people involved in the design and construction.

Enthusiasts can learn more about the project and the restoration fund at projectmarlin.co.uk

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