Crime & Safety
Firefighter with one leg tackles blaze at railway station
His wooden leg fell off as he raced to the scene. Despite his handicap, he refused to give up and continued battling the fire with his fellow crew members.
The blaze occurred at Didcot railway station 140 years ago tomorrow, just before 1pm on March 31, 1886. Didcot was then a village, with no firefighting equipment and no piped water.
READ MORE: Private school wins praise for its sports pitches
An account of the incident by S Allen Warner reads: “The Harwell ‘fire brigade’ appeared on the scene to reinforce the efforts of station staff and villagers who, with water from the wells at nearby hotels and the water cart from Blagrave Farm, were doing their best to check the flames.
“The Harwell ‘engine’, brought on a wagon and drawn by horses, was manned by a team of six to eight men.
“One member of the team had a wooden leg and this not being securely fastened, fell off during the hasty journey over the uneven roads, and its owner was seen hopping around on one leg when at length the pump got to work.”
Crews from Wallingford and Abingdon arrived to help and members of the Oxford Volunteer Fire Brigade took their fire engine and truck – known as Gamecock – to Oxford station, loaded them on to a wagon and travelled to Didcot on the railway line.
Details of the fire – and the heroic one-legged man – were uncovered by historian and retired fire officer John Lowe, who lives in Kidlington.
A subsequent investigation found that the fire started when an employee holding an oil lamp near a fire in one of the station waiting rooms accidentally spilt some of the oil.
Jackson’s Oxford Journal reported: “The fire rapidly ignited the oil and before he had time to take action, the flames were roaring up the chimney. The chimney caught fire and it ran up through the telegraph office.”
The alarm had been raised after the bookstall clerk and an inspector noticed an unusual amount of smoke on the platform. In minutes, the wooden roof was on fire and flames spread rapidly throughout the building.
The newspaper report continued: “The stationmaster and inspectors with great promptness set to work in organising the men, but it was soon seen that their efforts would be useless.
“Meanwhile, a telegram had been sent to Oxford and the splendid fire engine was brought down the (railway) line and immediately set to work.
“The Harwell engine, too, arrived early and subsequently, there came the fire engines from Wallingford and Abingdon. All were brought to bear on the burning mass.”
It was soon clear that it would be impossible to save the station offices, but “the firemen, one and all, worked with a will and succeeded in saving valuable property”.
Passengers with their luggage gathered in safe corners of the station. Freight trains were halted, but most passenger trains continued to run using a loop line.
The newspaper added: “The fire continued unabated until early evening. The flames could be seen miles around.”
Cotswold Wildlife Park was established by John Heyworth on the Bradwell Grove Estate and opened on Good Friday, March 27, 1970.
It began with 341 animals and has since grown to house more than 1,500 animals across 250 species.
A spokesperson for Cotswold Wildlife Park said: “We hope you’ll join us in celebrating 56 wonderful years of Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens and we’d like to thank our visitors for their loyal support over the years.
“We must thank them for all their support for more than half a century.”
From its early days on a shoestring budget, the park has expanded to include giraffes, which arrived in 2010 for its 40th anniversary, and rhinos such as D’ora, named during its golden jubilee year in 2020.
George the Aldabra giant tortoise is the park’s oldest and only original resident.
To mark the 50th anniversary, keepers made him a special cake during the lockdown.
The Wantage Orchestra Spring Concert at the Old Mill Hall in Grove was celebrated as “an inspired afternoon” with the highlight being a recital by 17-year-old Katherine Payne.
The young violinist has been described as a “virtuosic performer” and is in her final year at the Yehudi School of Music.
READ MORE: Ticket confusion as football legends event at local club cancelled
She will go on to study violin further once she turns 18 and is the recipient of many prizes including the Celia Walker overall prize.
Ms Payne was the leader of the Thames Valley Youth Orchestra and was playing on a Castagneri violin and a Morizot bow, sponsored by the Cherubim Trust.
Typically these violins sell at auction for between £5,000 and £15,000.
At the performance on Saturday, March 21 there was standing room only with Beethoven’s Symphony no.7 and Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie being played.
Conductor Christopher Fletcher Campbell called it “an inspired afternoon”, with home made cakes made available at the interval
One audience member said: “We enjoyed the Wantage Orchestra concert yesterday.
“Lovely programme, and Katherine was very accomplished. Good to see it so well supported.”
READ MORE: Michelin recommended village pub up for £545,000 sale amid major price drop
Another added: “What a wonderful afternoon performance, beautiful sunshine outside and amazing performance inside.
“The choice of pieces brought out the best from everyone and they bought enjoyment to us all. Thank you I look forward to future concerts.”
The group’s next concert will be on Sunday, July 5 at 7pm at The Wantage Parish Church, with more information available on its website.
Originally scheduled to close on April 10, Blueprints of Power at Blenheim Palace will now remain open until May 31.
The decision marks 300 years since the death of Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect behind the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Heather Carter, managing director of the visitor attraction at Blenheim Palace, said: “Blueprints of Power has sparked remarkable momentum, opening conversations across generations.
“The response has been excellent, so we’re pleased to be extending the exhibition to give visitors more time to explore Sir John Vanburgh’s remarkable life.
“From his architectural brilliance to his larger-than-life character, never-before-seen items, interactive experiences and an immersive finale in the Long Library make it a must-visit for history enthusiasts, architecture fans and anyone curious about the fascinating story behind Blenheim Palace.”
The exhibition offers an immersive journey through Vanbrugh’s diverse career, from playwright to architect, and sheds light on his complex relationship with the First Duchess of Marlborough, Sarah Churchill.
Visitors begin in the Great Hall, where models, plans, and letters introduce Vanbrugh’s work, before moving through other rooms that explore his influences and connections.
A highlight of the exhibition is the finale in the Long Library, featuring a projection experience with light, sound, and motion.
This segment tells the story of Blenheim Palace’s construction.
Admission to the Blueprints of Power exhibition is included with a valid day ticket or Pass to Britain’s Greatest Palace.
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoOxford: ‘Next generation’ LimeBikes in city from today
-
Jobs & Careers2 weeks agoWhy Join Oxford | Oxford University Jobs
-
Jobs & Careers2 weeks agoExplore our Careers
-
Student Life2 weeks agoThe independent cinema battling Oriel College to stay open
-
Oxford Events2 weeks agoMichelin Guide Oxfordshire Restaurants – The Oxford Magazine
-
Oxford Events2 weeks agoOxford News and Events, What’s on in Oxford, Exhibitions
-
Jobs & Careers2 weeks agoInternal Job Board for University vacancies
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoCrash partially blocks A40 and causes severe Oxfordshire traffic