WHEN the fire chief at Wolvercote Paper Mill in Oxford decided to hold a fire practice, things didn’t go quite to plan.

Other private brigades from the city came dashing to the scene thinking it was a real emergency.

The telephonist at the mill had been told it was a practice but then went to lunch and failed to pass the message to the relief telephonist.

As a result, engines from Pressed Steel, Morris Motors and elsewhere raced along the Northern Bypass, with big brass bells clanging, to find bemused staff at the paper mill watching their brigade pretending to put out a fire. The story is told by Mike Brogden, whose father, Mr WHL Brogden (known as Bill or Les), was chief officer of the Pressed Steel brigade.

As we have previously recalled, Oxford had up to 18 private fire brigades protecting factories, hospitals and colleges. They worked together with the Oxford City brigade to provide cover when emergencies arose.

Mr Brogden writes: “The private fire brigades played an important role in their own workplaces but also backed up the Oxford City brigade when big fires required more help.

“When the Co-op in George Street caught fire (the city fire station was opposite at the time), the Pressed Steel Brigade, and probably others, were called in.

“My father told stories about being on the roof when it fell in, but I was never sure whether to believe this.

“The support system meant that when the Pressed Steel paint shop caught fire, the Oxford City and other brigades arrived to give help.

“This system required fire engines to move across the county to be available in the event of another big emergency.”

The Pressed Steel brigade was formed in 1931 and Mr Brogden senior was appointed chief officer in 1946. His son tells me: “He had joined the safety department in 1936 and immediately volunteered for the fire brigade. He was a fulltime fireman by the outbreak of the Second World War.

“The brigade consisted of a few full-timers and several volunteers from various parts of the factory.

According to the original minute book in 1931, the volunteers were paid 1s 3d per hour for their fire brigade duties and for attending drill sessions.

“The chief fire officer was also the works safety engineer – an increasingly difficult job over the years as management sought to increase productivity while the safety team sought to prevent injuries.”

The firemen practised their drills on Sunday mornings and weekday evenings ready for emergencies in the factory and for local, regional and national competitions with other private brigades.

Mr Brogden recalls: “The rivalry between the brigades was very strong and the Pressed Steel brigade won many cups and shields.

“At a typical Saturday competition, teams from Pressed Steel, Morris Motors, Oxford University Press, Littlemore Hospital, Wolvercote Paper Mill and others ran down a course with heavy hose reels, brass nozzles and branches, unwinding the hose just ahead of the advancing water, connecting more hoses and fixing – just in time – the nozzle to aim the jet of water at the target.

“The timing was crucial – the man at the pump had to judge the speed of the water to be just behind the runner.

“A mistake caused the unwound hose or the nozzle to fly away, often risking injuries. As a child, I found it very exciting to watch and the roar of the Coventry Climax pumps added to the excitement.”

Mr Brogden senior retired in 1974 and was awarded an MBE for his