Gardener recalls his boyhood role in fire crash rescue forty-eight years ago this year...

Our recent story (May 10) about Firefighter Malcolm Farrow, who died when the fire tender he was travelling in crashed into a tree in Maidstone’s College Road in 1970, has prompted memories for Martyn Barrett. Mr Barrett was a mere whippersnapper of 15 at the time, but he was one of those who rushed to the aid of the eight-man crew on that fateful day of September 2. He said: “We lived at 11 College Road. We were watching TV when we heard a loud bang. “My father, Edward Barrett, and I rushed outside to see what it was. “The fire engine was half-way up a tree and had caught fire. Several of the men were still inside. But one man got out and was in flames - he ran off down the road.” (This was Mr Farrow) Despite his young age, Martyn Barrett was already working - at Len Cabinets in Water Lane. (The factory and the lane itself have long since disappeared under The Mall Shopping Centre.) Six of the fire crew were retained firemen - they had fulltime jobs elsewhere. Mr Barrett knew one of them, Tony Bush, from The Len. Mr Barrett said: “I helped Tony get a ladder off the back of the tender. “Some men got out by themselves, but we realised there were only seven, meaning one was still trapped inside. “By then flames were coming from the front of the vehicle and down one side, so we put the ladder round the other side. “One of the fireman, Don Bates, tried to get the last man out, but couldn’t. I leaned through the window and managed to get hold of his hand, but he was stuck and I wasn’t strong enough to pull him out. “My neighbour, George Stoner, who lived at number 17, finally managed to get hold of him and he came hurtling through the window.” This was the driver of the appliance, Roger Lynn. Mr Barrett’s father carried the injured man clear of the wreckage. Mr Stoner, who was himself a fireman with the Aylesford Paper Mills Fire Brigade, was burnt in the rescue and was later given a bravery award by a grateful fire service. Mr Farrow, from Holtye Crescent, was only 26. The former Oldborough Manor School pupil died from his injuries in hospital three days later. A year later, Mr Barrett joined the Army and went away for 23 years. But he is now back in Maidstone, working as a gardener and living in Chislehurst Close. Aged 64, he still has his copy of the Kent Messenger recording the crash. Buses. Just what is it about old buses that is so appealing? Arriva has released these images of buses that served Kent with its predecessor company Maidstone and District. M&D was taken over by Arriva in 1998, but had been one of the first bus companies in the country, being founded in 1911. It was the first company to build a bus station - in Palace Avenue, Maidstone. It was helped by having TillingStevens based just over the river in St Peter’s Street. Tilling produced many of the early buses, and even created the first petrol-electric hybrid. The M&D green and cream livery familiar to many readers didn’t come until later. Most of these early vehicles were red. Unfortunately, we have no details of the make and models of the buses featured. Perhaps readers can help?