Scope and Content
Includes material as follows:
- explosion of a television at Kingsbury Avenue, Dunstable*;
- arson by Animal Liberation Front at Leonard Ames (Ampthill) poultry factory, Doo-Little Mill Farm, Ampthill*;
- arson at Milletts camping warehouse, Cradock Industrial Estate, Luton [see FSD/RR 1/281]*;
- fire at Priestley’s Farm, Church Road, Flitwick*;
- fire at Strathmore Avenue, Luton*;
- fire at Brentwood Close, Houghton Regis*;
- rebuke to Beds FS by Queen’s Inspector of Fire Brigades due to great age of some fire appliances;
- FBU imposed overtime ban on fire control personnel due to undermanning;
- fire at a tyre depot, RAF Cardington [see FSD/PH 5/38]*;
- arson at Spinney Crescent, Dunstable*;
- article commemorating 75th anniversary of destruction by fire of Wesleyan Chapel, The Square, Dunstable*;
- exercise to simulate poisonous cloud of ammonia threatening a village (Northill)*;
- fire at former Luton & Dunstable Hospital Children’s Annexe, London Road, Luton*;
- arson at Wagon & Horses PH, High Street South, Dunstable*;
- arson at William Austin Junior School following glue-sniffing;
- filming of a scene involving an exploding car for the BBC drama series “Bird of Prey” at Luton Airport*;
- fire in Russo’s chip shop, High Street, Kempston*;
- possible arson at Lovell Road, Bedford*;
- report exposing mistakes (not made by FS personnel) in fire incident at SBDC run gypsy site, Northall Road, Eaton Bray*;
- arson at St.Martin de Porres RC Church Hall, High Street, Leagrave;
- fatal fire at 47 Elstow Road, Bedford [see FSD/RR 1/287];
- inquiry report into derailment near Linslade Tunnel [see FSD/PC30]*;
- opening of Stopsley Way Fire Station [see FSD/F3/1 and FSD/PH 3/3]*;
- fire at Bedford Rowing Club headquarters, Duckmill Lane, Bedford*;
- profile of former fireman who underwent heart surgery*;
- arson at Hindu Centre, Hereford Road, Lewsey Farm, Luton*;
- death due to carbon monoxide poisoning, 15 High Street, Lidlington [see FSD/RR 1/285];
- article on architecture of Stopsley Fire Station*;
- fire possibly caused by squatters, Ashburnham Road, Luton*;
- possible arson at grocery, c/o Hitchin Road and Charles Street, Luton*;
- fire brings on early labour, Kimberley Close, Luton*;
- arson at Westoning Manor, home for the mentally handicapped*;
- fire in washing machine at CFO Haley’s house!;
- undermanning at Ampthill Fire Station*;
- suspected arson at Alder Crescent Day Nursery, Luton;
- exercise simulating an aircraft crash in Ampthill*;
- repeated attempts at arson, Frosts butchers, Hastings Street, Luton;
- Ampthill fire engine on the way to an emergency in collision with a car on Ampthill-Maulden Bypass*;
- profile of husband and wife fire fighters and their colleagues at Shefford Fire Station*;
- award of Queen’s Gallantry Medal to Fm.Georgy Celine for his part in the Top Rank Club fire [see FSD/PC 30]*;
- arson attack at Top Farm, Streatley*;
- destruction by fire, possibly due to arson, of Courier Express warehouse, Dallow road, Luton [see FSD/RR 1/291]*;
- fire at Eversholt old village hall*;
- FBU criticism of Beds FS radiation suits in the light of plans by NIREX to store low level radioactive waste at CEGB storage depot, Elstow [see also PL/NIX series]*;
- visit of Lord Elton to Beds FS to present long service awards, to inspect FSHQ and Woburn Fire Station and to open Stopsley Fire Station [see FSD/PH 1/35]*;
- CFO Haley’s opinion that Beds FS could not cope with incidents arising from, enemy action in war due to insufficient training;
- arson at 94th Bedford Sea Scouts headquarters*;
- fire at Queen Street newsagents, Bedford*;
- Luton Borough and BCC councillors’ anger at lack of sufficient cover by Beds FS, due to insufficient manning, following fire at a mobile home, St.Thomas’ Road, Stopsley*;
- £5,000 needed to restore Shand Mason steam fire engine at FSHQ*;
- fire at derelict Howard Congregational Chapel, Mill Street, Bedford*;
- fire at Highfield Road, Leighton Buzzard*;
- fire at thatched Royal Oak PH, Woburn*;
- FBU criticism of decision not to upgrade FSHQ to provide 24 hour cover by full time firemen*;
- fire at Ventnor Gardens, Marsh Farm, Luton*;
- fireman’s rescue of Luton Town football fan from violent Millwall Football Club fans in Luton*;
- fire at All Saints’ church, Leighton Buzzard [see FSD/RR 1/296]*;
- fatal Cessna aircraft crash at Markham Woods, Streatley*;
- promotion of P.A.G.Morphew (ACFO Herts FS) to be DCFO, Beds FS, replacing Neil Wallington, new CFO Mid-Glamorgan*;
- NBBC “House of Horror” (5 Conduit Road) exhibition to highlight fire and other safety issues in bedsits*;
- increased fire safety at Luton Town Football Ground*;
- arson at Mark Rutherford Upper School;
- Beds FS opposition (enforced by BCC) to NIREX plans to store low-level nuclear waste at CEGB site, Elstow [see also PL/NIX series];
- presentation of BEM to SubO Gordon Smith (FSHQ)*;
- collision of a fire engine on an emergency call with a taxi, Park Road North, Houghton Regis;
- institution of Tom Smylie award by CFO Haley and Iza Smylie at Studley Road Fire Station, Luton [see FSD/PH 1/37]*;
- retirement of CFO Haley*;
- destruction by fire of barn at Westfield Farm, Henlow*;
- undermanning at Potton Fire Station meaning fire engine cannot be called out during the day;
- exercises in fire fighting at former airship hanger, RAF Cardington* ;
- fire at Clay’s of Bedford, butchers, West Arcade, Bedford*;
- complaints at advertising company making money out of programmes designed to benefit FSNBF;
- plans for a new fire station at Woburn and upgrading of Ampthill Fire Station;
- article on fire safety and fire service at Christmas*;
- undermanning in Beds FS;
- arson at Pirton Hill Junior School, Luton*;
- fatal fire involving a vagrant in an unoccupied house, 20 Costin Street, Bedford [see FSD/RR 1/299];
- arson at Sea Cadets HQ, Newnham Avenue, Bedford*;
- gale damage to Henderson Way, off Elstow Road, Bedford*;
- fire at NBBC flats, Bedford Road, Kempston*;
- fire in Farley Farm Road, Luton*;
- fires in Luton including Lea Bank block of flats, Marsh Farm and The Compasses PH, Farley Hill*;
- fire in Grade II listed thatched cottage, Cross End, Thurleigh*;
- arson at Lewsey Farm Health Clinic, Beadlow Road, Luton*;
- fatal aeroplane crash at Cranfield airshow*;
- undermanning of Beds FS and need to find more retained firemen*;
- arson attack on Asian family, Biscot Road, Luton*;
- Beds FS need for improved cutting equipment;
- fatal fire at 15 Manor Close, Kempston [see FSD/RR 1/304]*;
- FBU threat of strike action if full time firemen had to cover duties of retained firemen;
- FS personnel from Harrold confronted by Hell’s Angels in attending a late night fire in a car at Santa Pod racetrack.