The crews, specially trained to deal with huge fires resulting from the use of nuclear weapons during the Cold War, were set up as part of the National Auxiliary Fire Service to assist the public fire brigades in the '50's.

Fortunately the Cold War threat receded, and on Sunday, March 31, 1968, crews took part in a final parade at Dogsthorpe Fire Station, in Peterborough, in front of the Chairman of the Fire Authority Phyllis Steadman and Chief Fire Officer William Bunday.

And after the parade, the crew posed for a photograph in front of one of their fire engines and vowed to keep in touch.

Despite the length of time which has passed since the men served together, the vow to keep in touch has been honoured and each year the crew meet on an informal basis with significant anniversaries becoming slightly more formalised.

And each time they have posed by a Green Goddess in the same order as in 1968.

In Huntingdon, the voluntary crew consisted of nine men, who like many other auxiliary crews sought to pass examinations and rise to the standards of full-time firefighters, assisting on some emergency calls with their professional colleagues.

Former officer in charge, George Milbank said: "We are just as good looking. Perhaps a bit thinner on top and thicker round the middle – not bad considering we are the only AFS crew in existence who still meet every year.

"It is a tribute to the support and friendship extended to us by the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) throughout the years that so many of the old crew will be present."

The group are now looking forward to their 50th year reunion.

Chief fire officer at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, Graham Stagg added: "We are delighted to welcome back the Huntingdon Auxiliary Fire Service Crew, 40 years after they disbanded.

"Their time spent volunteering alongside their full-time colleagues sparked a life-long interest in firefighting, and even in some cases, a career within the fire service. It is of great testament to the team that they are still in contact all these years on."

The Army's ageing Green Goddesses were put into action in 2202 and 2003 when the city's firefighters went on strike. Thirty RAF personnel crewed the two engines based at the Territorial Army Centre, in Fletton, Peterborough.

Where are the men now?
Paul Prentist and John Gore went on to have careers of more than 30 years serving the local community as retained firefighters at Gamlingay Fire Station.

Chris Deeble now runs a bed and breakfast in Heacham.

Cyril Meson now owns a garage in Ramsey and spends hours rebuilding old fire engines and exhibiting them in support of charitable events.
Harry Hackett worked at Munters in Huntingdon for a number of years and has now retired.

George Milbank started work as a firefighter in the Middlesex Fire Brigade before moving back to Huntingdon in the early 1960s and joining the Auxiliary Fire Service. He has now retired.

Robin Rowles-Smith became Assistant Divisional Officer at the Fire Service training school in Stevenage and has now retired.

Brian Righton ended up as Chief Fire Officer at Cranfield Airport and University Complex in Bedfordshire and has now retired.

Instructor, Maurice Johnson eventually became the Chief Officer of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and has also since retired.

Factfile: The Green Goddess
The ageing Green Goddess fire engines lack the speed, specialist equipment and water capacity of their up-to-date equivalents.

They are hindered by lack of room and unable to transport the four sets of specialist breathing apparatus found in modern engines.

The '50s and '60s Goddesses do not carry cutting equipment used to free people trapped in road or train accidents.

They can hit a top speed of only 35mph – half that of today's fire engines, and the vehicles have no radio.

Their water capacity is 300 gallons, far less than the 500 gallons capacity in modern fire engines – meaning operators will have less time before they start running out of water and have to connect to hydrants.

There are just two seats for a driver and another crew member – the rest sit on a forward-facing wooden bench at the back of the cab.