I WAS so saddened to read about the possible closure of our local fire station in your paper last week.

My dad and his three brothers and my mum’s brother were all in this fire station many years ago where they served as a team with many others.

Like Andy Steele said back then, all of them worked in the village and were there within minutes of a shout.

I remember when there used to be a siren on the roof of the old town hall that used to go off, before the days of individual bleepers. Also at the bottom of the stairs in mum and dad’s, I can recall a bell that used to ring and wake the whole house up. Lots of memories good and bad when I was a child of Princetown Fire Brigade. Dad used to be the local coalman there for many years and joined the fire service because of course he worked in the village.

In a lot later years however, he had a really bad fall on black ice in the driveway, the local fire brigade were here within minutes before the ambulance arrived, they were so good to us, which I will never forget.

Now as you said in your article, they carry life saving medical emergency aids.

My grandad Owen was one of the first members of the Auxiliary Fire service during the Second World War.

I am sure all our village will be so sorry if this well needed emergency service will have to close, they are all so special.

Sheila Coates

Princetown