大象传媒

Sonning, in Berkshire, had a very special fire engine during World War Two. Not only its revolutionary luxury styling, with its crew sitting inside the cab and not hanging on the bench seats facing the elements, but manned by a close-knit and efficient 鈥渄o it yourself鈥� volunteer fire brigade.
When Chief Officer A F Edwards and his son designed the machine, in 1938, they were light years ahead of the rest of the country with their ideas -- and then they led the village鈥檚 efforts to raise the money to pay for it.
Despite its sale after 30 years 鈥榦n the run鈥� protecting the village and going to London in the Blitz -- and, of course being nationalised during World War Two and then becoming part of the Royal Berkshire and Reading Fire Brigade, when volunteer brigades did not return to their promised pre-war independence -- it may be still surviving. I saw it a few years ago as one of the historic vehicles being maintained by firemen volunteers in today鈥榮 brigade..
This is the time of year to remember its proudest moment, when the fire fighters raced to London to fight the Blitz. That, in 1940, was as horrific as anything the world had seen, just like September 11 last year. Especially as they were under fire, from bombs and machine gun bullets, as they fought the flames.
It is crystallised in the pages of my book, Are you 17?, telling the stories of the fire fighters who raced from Berkshire to help. If I may lift out two brief quotes, it recalls a proud moment for Sonning鈥檚 fire engine and the men who were riding in it.
First the scene: 鈥楾here was a sharp intake of breath 鈥� Ahead, and away as far as he could see, there was one great sea of flames, with tottering walls every now and then crashing into the flames. 鈥淲hat a smell!鈥� Tea, flour, coffee, rubber, cigars, wood, all that the (London docks) warehouses contained, were combing their peculiar odours into one overpowering smell.鈥�
Into this maelstrom: 鈥楾he Sonning Volunteer Fire Brigade created a minor stir as they arrived in their streamlined all-enclosed engine. Designed by the father and son Edwards鈥� team it was acclaimed as revolutionising fire engines when it was put into service in April 1938. Chief of the brigade was A F Edwards, but it was son Tom who was leading the skilled fire fighters from the picture-book riverside village. His men were dry, warm and ready鈥︹��
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