Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Peter Methven, retired Fire Officer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the audience at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith.

Peter, who was born and raised in Edinburgh, spent several years with the Royal Navy before entering service as a valet footman at Taymouth Castle in the Highlands of Scotland. In November 1909, he joined the Edinburgh Fire Brigade as a fireman and, after working his way up through the ranks, was promoted to Second Officer in 1918.

He received the Edinburgh Corporation's Medal for Bravery for saving eight lives in an Edinburgh tenement block fire in 1919. In addition, he was commended for his bravery in 1937 when he saved his colleagues' lives in a devastating fire at the British Rope Works in Leith. He was Firemaster of Edinburgh's Central Fire Station from 1927 until 1941 when he left the service to run the Central Bar on Glasgow Street.

"great honour... great kindness"

programme details...

• Edition No: 18
• Subject No: 18
• Broadcast live: Mon 29 Oct 1956
• Broadcast time: 8.15-8.45pm
• Venue: King's Theatre, Hammersmith
• Series: 2
• Edition: 3

on the guest list...

• Frank Rushbrook
• Jimmy Donnelly
• William Finlay
• Robert Wylie
• Molly - wife
• Jimmy Rolland
• Dave Willis

production team...

• Researchers: Peter Moore, Nigel Ward
• Writer: Gale Pedrick
• Director: unknown
• Producer: T Leslie Jackson

• with thanks to Dr Frank Rushbrook for his contribution to this page

Life Savers

heroes of the emergency services

Stories behind This Is Your Life

a review of the second series

Photographs of Peter Methven This Is Your Life