Closure-threatened fire station welcomes families

FAMILIES flocked to an open evening at Henley fire station.

It was the second year that the on-call station in West Street has held the fundraiser, which gave children and their parents the chance to explore the station and see the equipment its firefighters use.

The event raised £1,454, which will go towards the Fire Fighters Charity, which provides support for current and former firefighters and their loved ones.

The station was decorated with Christmas lights and tables were set up inside with raffle prizes, a lucky dip, toy firefighter hats and a grotto where children could meet Father Christmas.

Outside, visitors were given the opportunity to look inside the station’s fire truck as well as a Green Goddess, a vintage fire truck that was built between 1953 and 1956 for the Auxiliary Fire Service.

The event comes as the station is being considered for closure by Oxfordshire County Council due to what it says is “persistent low fire engine availability”.

It was organised by Rosie Gosby-Dolby, wife of crew manager Andy Gosby, and the Henley crew was supported by firefighters from surrounding stations.

The couple were joined by their two children, Willow, 12, who was helping to serve drinks and mince pies, and Cherry, nine, who was organising the line for the grotto. Mrs Gosby-Dolby said: “I wasn’t expecting so many people to turn up. It’s really nice to see so many people.”

She added that she would like to thank all the companies that had donated to the raffle.

Mr Gosby said: “We didn’t really plan to do much this year but, after the announcement of the possible closure, we wanted to give a bit of exposure to the station, so we’ve gone a little bit extra.”

A history stall outlining the background of the station has been set up, which features a slideshow and a display of helmets spanning three generations.

Kit Hill, three and his brother Freddy, aged four, explored the inside of the crew’s fire truck.

Their mother, Amy, said it was the first time the family had been to the station. She said: “We always walk past and the kids are always desperate to get inside and see things. So it was a nice opportunity to go in.”