A DECADES-long link between Cooper Avon in Melksham and the county’s fire brigade comes to an end on March 31.

As Avon Rubber the company had its own fire brigade, which it strengthened after a substantial fire at the works on August 15, 1966 which caused around £1m damage. A link was established with the county’s fire brigade but over the years this petered out.

The link was resurrected and strengthened following the arrival of John Craig as chief fire officer of Wiltshire in 1986.

The county fire brigade, now called Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, provided fire appliances, uniforms and training to bring the Avon employees up to the same standard as Wiltshire’s retained firefighters.

The Cooper Avon crew were trained in water rescue about 10 years ago, after the company took delivery of an inflatable boat. The boat belongs to the company, having originally been introduced as part of the environmental protection measures for the River Avon which runs through the factory site. The boat will remain on site for this use.

Mr Craig, who retired in 2000 and lives in Worton, said: “I would say that Cooper Avon is one of the best private brigades of its type in the country. The firefighters have become very experienced due to the incidents they have attended.

“During my time at Wiltshire Fire Service we were very grateful for their assistance on a whole range of incidents, not just in the immediate vicinity of their factory but throughout the county, they were a valuable resource.”

Jerry Willmott, who has been chairman of Wiltshire Fire Authority for nine years, saw at first hand the re-established link with the fire brigade as he was the group contingency manager at Avon Rubber for five years from 1989. Mr Willmott, 76, had a 31-year career in the fire service, including a role of deputy chief fire officer of Wiltshire in the mid-1970s and chief fire officer of Merseyside.

He said: “In the 1970s the Avon firefighting capability was not fully integrated with Wiltshire, they attended fire incidents on a very restricted basis.

“It was considered to be one of the biggest employers in the county and one of the greatest fire risks potentially and as such it deserved special and large scale protection. The best way of achieving that was not to have the Avon sitting on the outside but to have it as a fully integrated part of the fire service.

“After the link was resurrected and under the succeeding chief fire officers Neil Wright and Andy Goves it has gone from strength to strength and their specialism in water rescue has made them outstanding.

“I’m sad to see a historical fire service connection with Wiltshire Fire Service broken but I hope a number of the exceptional firefighters from the Avon will be absorbed into Wiltshire’s retained and whole time service.

“I understand the commercial reasons by Cooper Avon for not maintaining its brigade but I am sad to see it go. We will not allow the efficiency of the fire service to be lost in any way.”

The fire engine based at Cooper Tires belongs to Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, having been on long-term loan, and will be brought back into the service fleet.