News

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DEATH OF JANE COX  (13/09)

With deep sorrow the death of Jane Cox is announced. Jane died on 13th September at home in Devizes with John and her much loved cat, Poppy, right by her side. We have all looked on with admiration at the way that Jane battled serious illness and disabilities in past years with courage and cheerful resilience. Never did she show any self pity and it was always a delight to be in her presence. We all mourn Jane’s passing and send our sympathy to John and all the family.

Funeral details will be published on this website when they are known.

HEATH FIRE DECLARED A MAJOR INCIDENT  (11/08)

Dorset & Wiltshire FRS was called to a fire at Holt Heath near Wimbourne shortly after 11.00am on 9th August. Whipped by the wind the fire spread quickly and became a 20 pump incident. Around 20 houses have been evacuated. D & W FRS has called upon neighbouring fire services for help and has informed the press that the fire will take days to quell.

DEATH OF BRIAN FEAVER  (07/08)

It is with very much sorrow that the death of Brian Feaver is reported. He was 74 years old. He died in hospital on 4th August where he was receiving emergency treatment for a serious bleed. Our condolences have been passed to Sheila.

The funeral was held at Kingsdown Crematorium, Kingsdown Road, Swindon, on Thursday 28th August.

DEATH OF DEANNA GENTLEMAN  (30/07)

It is with profound sorrow that the death of Deanna Gentleman is announced. Deanna passed away peacefully in Prospect Hospice, Wroughton on 28th July after bravely fighting leukaemia for several months. Deanna was married to John Gentleman QFSM for 64 years and the loss of his beloved soulmate is being keenly felt by John as indeed it is by all members of this Association. Our deepest sympathy is extended to John and Deanna’s family.

Deanna’s funeral was held on Friday 29th August at Kingsdown Crematorium, Kingsdown Road , Swindon, followed by a wake at Shrivenham Bowls Club, Martens Road, Shrivenham, SN6 8AX.

DEATH OF GEORGE CLARKE  (28/07)

With much sorrow the death of possibly the longest serving member of WRFA is reported. GEORGE CLARKE passed away in hospital in Preston, Lancashire on 16th July 2025. He was 92.

George was a native of Preston and he joined Lancashire Fire Service after serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He rose to the rank of Divisional Officer and was then appointed DCFO of Wiltshire Fire Brigade. He succeeded Bill Chadwick as CFO. His career developed with George becoming CFO of Hampshire and then Commandant of the Fire Service College. In retirement, George moved back to Preston and became a mainstay of Inglewhite Congrgational Church where he was a lay preacher. George’s funeral was held on 4th August at Inglewhite Congregational Church.

DEATH OF LEN BENWELL  (29/06) 

With profound sorrow the death of Len Benwell is reported. Len passed away in the early hours of 28th June at his home in Blunsdon.

Len’s funeral was held on Friday 25th July at Kingsdown Crematorium. The coffin was carried on ‘Martha’.  The cortege departed from Drove Road Fire Station after the bells were put down.

MIKE GRIMSHAW HONOURED BY THE KING  (16/06)

Mike Grimshaw received the British Empire Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours List. We are delighted and know that this recognition of his public service is very well earned. Mike is an honorary member of WRFA and gives the association very valuable service in a variety of ways. Mike is an on call watch manager at Chippenham Fire Station. His fulltime job is as the senior sales manager for a company making and marketing electronic switchgear.

Mike served in the RAF Regiment as an officer before changing his career path. His expertise and experience as a foot drill instructor have been called upon in the recent past to train and marshal each year the emergency services contingent at the National Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph in London. Mike is heavily involved in the planning of the funerals of the two fire service members who lost their lives in the Bicester Motion fire on 15th May. Well done, Mike Grimshaw BEM.

DEATH OF TONY FELLENOR  (30/05)

With deep sorrow the death of TONY FELLENOR is reported. Tony died in the early hours of Friday 30th May at his home in Chippenham. For several months Tony knew that he had cancer in several parts of his body and hospital treatment in Bristol did not result in more than extending his life for a short time. Our hearts go out to Sue and all the family and friends who we know will miss him so dearly.

Tony was a much valued member of Wiltshire Fire Brigade and also of this Association. The funeral was held on Monday 16th June 2025, at West Wiltshire Crematorium, Semington. The wake followed at The Pheasant pub, Chippenham. R.I.P Tony

RECYCLING PLANT FIRE DECLARED “MAJOR INCIDENT”  (25/05)

On 23rd May yet another recycling plant fire occurred. This time it was Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service that had to deal with it. Fire broke out at a warehouse on the Sanders Lodge Industrial Estate in Rushden. A large quantity of plastic was stored on the site. Assistance from Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service was called upon and the decision to declare it a major incident was a multi-agency one. Fire crews are expected to be at the site for days. The cause has not been announced. No injuries have been reported.

FIRE AT BRISTOL HOSPITAL CAUSES EVACUATIONS  (25/05)

Fire broke out at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol on 22nd May and patients and staff from maternity wards had to be evacuated as a precaution. Avon Fire & Rescue Service was congratulated for confining the severe fire to the roof enabling the hospital to rapidly resume normal patient care. No injuries were reported. The fire is reported to have been caused by a faulty solar panel. Photo by BBC.

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TWO OXFORDSHIRE FRS FIREFIGHTERS KILLED  (16/05)

At 6.39pm on 16th May Oxfordshire FRS received a call to Bicester Motion at a former RAF base. Pumps were made 10. Several serious explosions occurred within the building involved and the smoke plume generated by the f ire drifted over a large area. Two firefighters were killed while tackling the fire and two others were seriously injured. A member of the public also died. CFO Rob MacDougall paid tribute to the bravery of all emergency service personnel involved in dealing with the fire. A representative of Bicester Motion also paid tribute to the bravery of the emergency services describing their bravery as overwhelming. The building involved contained preserved vehicles and aircraft. A message of condolence from WRFA has been sent to CFO MacDougall.