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Ted Gapp Fire Chief
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Bradford fire chief, wife celebrate 40th anniversary

"A number of friends were on hand last Sunday afternoon to help Edward (Ted) gapp and Audrey Gapp celebrate 40 years of marriage.
A reception was held at the Bradford firehall for the Gapp's. It was a fitting location because Mr. Gapp has been the chief of the town's volunteer fire department for many years.
The Gapp's were married on October 2, 1935 and have spent their entire married life in Bradford. In addition to his involvement with the fire department, Mr. gapp works as caretaker of the town hall.
Mr. gapp has lived in Bradford since he came to Canada at the age of seven with his parents. He was born and lived his early years in England.
The guests enjoyed tea and coffee with the Gapp's. The head table was decorated with a beautiful flower arrangement.
As chief of the fire department, Mr. Gapp has seen the addition of more equipment and particularly a new pumper truck earlier this year. The truck was provided by West Gwillimbury Township to permit better service to the township.
Mr. and Mrs. Gapp said the recent weather is very similar to that of 40 years ago. "Our wedding day was much like today," Mr. Gapp said Sunday. "It was cool and foggy in the morning but once the sun burned it off, it was a beautiful day." "

New chief named

"The Bradford fire department has a new fire chief to fill retiring Chief Ted Gapp's place.
The 16-member volunteer department voted Monday night to recommend that council appoint Deputy Chief Harold Boyd as new head of the department.
Mr. Boyd, who has served on the department since 1943, was the members' unanimous choice for chief.
Boyd became deputy chief in the late 1940's shortly after he joined the volunteer brigade. He also held the secretary-treasurers' post under Chief Dodger Collings.
The new chief first came to Bradford in 1937. He was born in Newmarket.
For the last two years, he has been semi-retired and he told The Witness that he will devote much of his time to the department and his new post.
In addition to electing a new chief, the volunteers elected Ed Bulpit as the new deputy chief.
Other officers elected Monday night were: Bev Everitt, secretary; Jim Church, treasurer; Ron Bannerman, Laurence McKnight and George Lowe, captains.
Chief elect Boyd was scheduled to appear before council Tuesday afternoon to receive his official appointment.
Boyd will take over the job Chief Ted Gapp is leaving this month after 35 years as the department's head man."

Bradford Witness

Old Fire Hall on Barrie Street

Bradford fire hall with many volunteers. Volunteers were the only source of fire fighters in those days.
From left to right: Roy Storey, Ted Gapp, Roy Saint, Bill Beekink, Gord Church, Jim Church, George Allan, Jim Everitt, Gord Compton, Orville Hand, Harold "Butch" Boyd, Chuck Woodcock.

Bill Marks

Town Mourns Fire Chief

BRADFORD - They came by the hundreds yesterday (Tuesday) to pay their respects to a dedicated fire fighter - Harold "Butch" Boyd, Bradford's fire chief, who died Saturday in York County Hospital in Newmarket.

He was 64.

Firefighters from across southern Ontario came to pay a final tribute to the quiet, modest man who was buried in full uniform yesterday at Newmarket Cemetery.

His comrades formed an honor guard after a simple ceremony at the Lathangue and Skwarchuk Funeral Home.

Up until the morning before he died, Butch was preparing for a fire safety campaign involving his pet project: having smoke detectors installed in every home in Bradford.

WORK TO DO

His widow Eileen recalls him telling fellow Bradford firefighter Jim Church Friday, "I've got to go down to the fire hall. There's a lot of work to do."

"Being fire chief was his whole life," said Sherran Breedon, his daughter. "The only time he ever went anywhere - Quebec and Regina - was to a convention as Bradford's fire chief.:

Former Fire Chief Ted Gapp remembers Butch as a "real good, dedicated fireman."

He was born in Newmarket, moving to Bradford in 1937 where he opened a butcher shop. He married Eileen in 1942 and moved into the house, coincidentally, directly across from the future fire hall where he would spend so much of his time.

Eileen smiled when she remembered his unorthodox style of buying a home.

"He never even looked inside the place. He just figured that since he was getting married he needed a house."

She fell through the floor as soon as she stepped in for her first look.

36 YEARS SERVICE

Butch joined the fire department in 1943. He was also a charter member of the Bradford Lions Club, although he stopped his activities with the club some time later.

In addition to his profession as butcher, Butch was also a restauranteur, pool hall operator, and manager of the first vacuum plant in Ontario - "A jack-of-all-trades," according to his daughter.

Butch became fire chief after the retirement of Ted Gapp in 1975.

He was an avid curler and belonged to the curling club up until three years ago.

But his first love was the fire department.

Despite recent hospitalization, he continued to organize his safety campaign, arrange the weekly practice drills, conduct school tours, and when the need arose, supervise firefighting.

He was rushed to York County Friday evening after he developed breathing difficulties. He died the following morning.

Harold Boyd leaves his wife Eileen, daughter Sherran (Mrs. George Breedon) of Bradford, three grandchildren, Laurie, Paul and Trish, and a brother Glenn of Scarborough.

Pallbearers were Orville Hand, Bill Breen, Ron Bannerman, Lawrence McKnight, Jim Church and George Allan. Flowerbearers were Ted Gapp, Ken Carter, Roy Storey, Bev Everitt, Gordon Church and Ted Bulpit.

Bradford Witness