Fire chief carried to his funeral on the back of vintage fire engine

The 1943 Austin K4 fire appliance took former Corsham fire station commander Maurice Hancock to St Bartholomew’s Church in the town he served for many years.

His coffin, along with his white fire chief’s helmet, was carried on the back of the appliance and Corsham firefighters formed a guard of honour at the church.

Family members carry Maurice Hancock’s coffin into St Bartholomew’s Church in Corsham. Image: Trevor Porter 76908-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The vintage fire appliance was followed by a modern fire appliance crewed by current Corsham firefighters.

More than 100 people attended the church service, which was followed by a wake at The Corsham Club in Newlands Road.

Corsham Firefighters form a guard of honour. Image: Trevor Porter 76908-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The former Wiltshire Fire and Rescue officer died peacefully on March 7 aged 93 at the Royal United Hospital in Bath following a long period of ill-health.

Maurice retired as station commander at Corsham in 1986. Two of his three sons followed their father into the fire service.

Julian became a full-time firefighter, while Martin became a part-time retained firefighter and later became station commander at Corsham like his father.

Former Corsham firefighter Maurice Hancock. (Image: Trevor Porter)

Mr Hancock served in the fire service for 28 years, retiring at the age of 55. He retired from his job as a caretaker at Corsham School in 1996.

His son Julian said: “My father knew a lot of people in the town through his work as the school caretaker and as a firefighter.”

He had previously worked as a stone machinist for the West Wells Stone Company at Neston, cutting up Portland Stone for building projects.

Mr Hanock had a life-long interest in bee-keeping since the age of 14, and was also president of the Corsham Twinning Association, visiting its twin town of Jargeau in the Loire region of France.

He was the association's president when it celebrated the 25th anniversary of the twinning with Jargeau in 2006.

Mr Hancock outlived his wife Fay, who died in 2022. The couple had six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Reverend Dr Andrew Johnson, Vicar of St Bartholomew’s Church, conducted the funeral service, which was followed by a burial at the Ladbrook Lane Cemetery in Corsham.