ENTERTAINING as the civil defence incident in Cirencester Market Place on Saturday afternoon may have been, its object was of course far more than that of providing entertainment for Saturday afternoon shoppers. Rather it was to provide a demonstration of equipment ready for use in any future emergency to impress upon the people the part Civil Defence would play in any future war and the urgent training in the various branches of the corps.
The object of the incident and the hopes of the local Civil Defence Committee were in fact summed up by Major General F VB Witts, the local chief warden, when he told the Standard “I hope it will move some of the spectators to think again and come forward without delay.”
A crowd of several hundred people had seen four men dressed in their night clothes rescued from the roof of the Corn Hall after a ‘bomb’ had been exploded.
The explosion of smoke bombs and thunder flashes on the roof of the Corn Hall had heralded the frantic cries for help from the men and the clanging of the fire bells and the rushing of ambulances on the scene. About 70 feet up on the roof of the Corn Hall were the four men trapped and waiting to be rescued. The Fire Service’s 100ft turntable ladder brought from Cheltenham went quickly and efficiently into operation. In turn the four men were lowered to safety by a rescue sling and automatic lowering line in conjunction with the turntable ladder. The four men were Sub Officer Edwards, and firemen R Evans, D Benjamin and C Sollis all members of Cirencester Fire Service.
Casualties were also lowered from first floor windows of the building on stretchers and from the second floor by means of the ‘Davie’ escape apparatus.
The recues were carried out with striking smoothness and the whole operation reflected credit on the many volunteers taking Part.
Divisional Fire Officer R J Jennings gave a loudspeaker commentary throughout the proceedings. Chief Fire Officer C J Goad was also present.
The demonstration was the prelude to a six week recruiting campaign for all sections of the Civil Defence.
Three new recruits including one for the Fire Service were gained immediately after the display, three others having been gained since the first announcement of the new campaign.
November 15, 1952
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