This early 1st pattern fire service cap badge for the Rhoose Airport Fire Service is in very good condition & would make a great addition to the fire service cap badge collector.
Owned by the Welsh Government since 1965 Cardiff’s Rhoose Airport handles around 1.1 million passengers a year from statistics drawn up in 2013. Built in 1951 after Lord Ogmore, the then Minister For Aviation decided that Wales should have a new international airport. The site chosen was a former Royal Air Force base originally used from 1940 to train Spitfire aircraft pilots during the second world war (WW2 1939 to 1945), it was situated approximately 12 miles from Cardiff City centre, the capital city of Wales & was officially opened in 1952. 
In 1965 The Ministry of Civil Aviation transferred ownership to the Welsh Government & the airport became known as Glamorgan Rhoose Airport. Another name change came about in the 1980’s when it was renamed Cardiff Wales Airport & it was the main base used by British Airways for maintenance of their aircraft including the famous Concorde. 
The firefighting duties are under the management of Serco, a huge company who run & administer several airport fire services who took over the 51 management & staff including the firefighters in 2008!
This cap badge is the badge worn between 1965 & the title change to Cardiff Wales Airport in the 1980’s, the emblem being an aircraft with the letter R & red wings symbolizing the Welsh dragon emblem. It has perfect enameling to the centre & both cap retaining lugs are strong & sturdy to the rear of the home office star, the standard full-pressed chrome version. This is a 100% original cap badge in great condition for The Glamorgan Rhoose Airport Fire Service, a cap badge only in circulation for approx. 20 years, with a limited staff, not many original cap badges come on the market for sale!