Search for Image ID ""

 Mistral. Journal of the Mersea Island Society 1971 / 1972. Page 19.

About our Fire Brigade by Doreen Fox contd.


To date the largest number of fires attended in one day is 5 and the worst year was 1959. It was very hot and dry, and between 
April and October the Brigade attended 152 fires. One of these was at Middlewiok Ranges. Some say the wind changed suddenly, 
but, whatever the ...
Cat1 Books-->Mistral Cat2 Mersea-->Fire Brigade Cat3 Families-->Mussett

Mistral. Journal of the Mersea Island Society 1971 / 1972. Page 19.
About our Fire Brigade by Doreen Fox contd.

To date the largest number of fires attended in one day is 5 and the worst year was 1959. It was very hot and dry, and between April and October the Brigade attended 152 fires. One of these was at Middlewiok Ranges. Some say the wind changed suddenly, but, whatever the cause, the Appliance was badly damaged and Mr. Harold Cutts suffered severe burns on his hands.

Many people will remember the cruiser ROLAND - refitted and just ready to take holiday makers cruising down the River Rhine, which caught fire on a Friday. It was a spectacular blase, which gutted the vessel. One week later to the day (Friday), the home of Mr & Mrs Rossiter, The Grove, Beach Road, was razed to the ground whilst they were both out. Their dog was found, terrified but safe, hiding under a desk. Many folk, including the firemen, wondered if this was just more than a coincidence, but the following Friday passed without incident.

A cautionary tale for us all is the story of the T.V, set which burst into flames at 2 a.m. in a house in Church Road. The fire burned its way right through the floor and was started by faulty electrical wiring, but if the T.V. plug had been pulled out of the wallsocket the set may well have been-saved and the fire less severe.

No-one ever had to pay to have a fire put out, except for chimney fires, which are an offence and for which house owners had to pay 5/-. There was a conscientious policeman in Colchester years ago - a Mr. Clark PC 49 - whose chimney caught fire. He summoned himself and appeared in Court to pay the fine.

But back to today. Do we appreciate how much our Firemen inconvenience themselves to be of service to the community? Time off - just to go to a football match - has to be negotiated and is given at the discretion of the Officer in Charge. We should never take them for granted.

To Sub-Officer J.G. Mussett, Leading Fireman Don Fahie, Leading Fireman David Mussett, Fireman Terry Cant, Fireman John Farthing, Fireman Geoff Green, Fireman Les Greenleaf, Fireman Ivan King and Fireman Ken Mole. Thank You.
and thanks too to Mr Oscar Whiting and Mr David Mussett...
See RG19_171 for a better copy of the photograph that is at the bottom of the page.
Date: 1972      


Image ID MIS_1972_021
Category 2 Mersea-->Fire Brigade
Category 3 Families-->Mussett


    Top

This image is part of the Mersea Museum Collection.