Huncote Road Fire

A Memory of Stoney Stanton.

I remember Lawrey but I thought his name was Merrick,I lived next door at no 19 huncote rd, being the other part of a semi their house went up in flames it must have been about January 1944 my brother Joe was a newborn, Jack and Elsie, Lawrey's mum and dad were at work, we could smell smoke dad, also Joe was on leave from the merchant navy and was the first one into the house, he and a number of neighbours got a bucket line going, newborn Joe and Mother were moved down to Elsie Nortons a good friend at number 13, it took ages for the brigade to come, remember phones were scarce and the fire station was 5 miles away.
The good thing about all of this was that Jack had a unlicensed pig hidden away somewhere he was so grateful for what had been saved because of Dad's heroics when the pig was slaughtered he gave us a whole leg, Dad being somewhat upright first refused but we were so hungry and with a newborn his mind was soon changed, we devoured it, it was cut, roast, salted, minced we didn't have fridges of freezers but that pork was delicious in all it's different stages, I could see Dad cringing with each mouthful.
Also a piece by Bill Truslove didn't he have a spell living in at No11 with Mrs Brightmore?

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