Elected as the first Chief Officer on the 27th September 1897. He resigned from the brigade in April 1903 having, it seems, been elected to the local Rural District Council. The vacancy for a Chief Officer had not been filled by 11th June that year and Mr. Riches offered to resume in the position but at that General Meeting of the brigade as above, Bryan D. Nockolds was appointed.

Bryan Nockolds was the son of  solicitor and became one himself the practice being based in Bishop's Stortford but he lived, initially at home, The Limes in Knight Street, then at Stone Leigh, West Road, Sawbridgeworth and was an early Chief Officer of the brigade, being elected as 'Captain'in1903 at the age of 20. He had a sporadic membership as he 'retired' as Chief Officer in 1907 on his leaving the town for Bishop's Stortford. On the 12th September that year the Brigade decided to present him with an enlarged photograph of the brigade framed in oak in recognition of his services. However, he was re-appointed as "Captain in Charge" on the 8th February 1913 on the resignation of Captain Allen. He attempted to resign, through business pressures, in November 1927 but was eventually persuaded to continue, eventually resigning through pressure of business, in September 1932. It seems that he rejoined again at the outbreak of war and remained in the brigade through the war years and until the latter years of the National Fire Service (NFS) as "Company Officer". I am indebted to the company of Solicitors that still retains the name "Nockolds" for providing the information that Bryan D. Nockolds died on the 13th July 1958.

Captain Ralph Allen was appointed on the 3rd October 1907 and other than a short "leave of absence" of some five months, his being engaged at the "Festival of Empire Exhibition", resigned on the 20th January 1913 owing to the pressures of his private business. It was at this time that Bryan Nockolds returned to the post. Captain Allen was accorded Hon. Chief Officer in which connection he could continue his supporting roles in the National Fire Brigade Union in which it is apparent he held several officer posts.

Mr. R. Marvin Everett was a barrister and lived at Springhall, Vantorts Road. Having been approached to take the position of Chief Officer, he had declined on the pretext of not enough time. However, his letter, among others that had been received and who had also been approached, considered at the General Meeting on the 9th March 1933, gave the impression that he would have liked to have accepted and a deputation was arranged to visit Mr. Everett. A further meeting on the 27th April indicated that he had consented to 'act' as Chief. He resigned the position at the General Meeting of the brigade on the13th June 1935 related to his pending marriage and as a consequence of leaving the town. All members of the brigade were invited to a Supper at Springhall on the 20th July, at the invitation of Mr. Everett's Mother, as a farewell gesture. He later returned to live at Springhall until sometime in the late 40's or early 50's.

Dr. Hailey ran his surgery in Knight Street opposite Forrest Stores. There was a photograph of Dr. Hailey as a Chief Officer of the Brigade that hung on the Control Room wall for many years but knowledge of his service is sparse. He was proposed at the General Meeting of the Brigade on the13th June 1935 and at the next meeting on the 3rd of October he chaired the meeting, so it can be assumed that he accepted the position in the meantime. It would seem that Dr. Hailey was required to undertake other duties as a Medical Doctor at the outbreak of war as at a meeting held on the 8th of February 1940 the Chief Officer was again Bryan D. Nockolds!

Just before the NFS was disbanded in 1947 - 48 he was promoted to Section Leader in charge of the Station and later, serving the County brigade as Sub Officer in Charge until his retirement in 1967, a total of 46 years continuous service in the brigade.