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#417 Graham Ramsden Fire in the City

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Graham Ramsden

Skelton Grange reduced to a Yorkshire Pudding Station for its final years
Sunday shift saw Walter prepping the firebox ready for the 11.0 am surge
Kindling and paper, sometimes last night’s fish and chips wrapper
Arranged neatly as per regulations with an assortment of accelerants’ in reserve
Search for matches, not in the usual place, trainee sent hunting
Pockets turned out with negative results
Same with security staff, smokers not on today’s shift
The responsibility for a Power Cut over Leeds loomed large
A Beat Bobby spotted having illicit drag by the station gates
Swan vestas passed through the bars saved the day
Sunday lunches will be cooked
We won’t tell the Inspector if you don’t mention the incident to the Station Manager

Precis

This true tale was passed to me by Walter Coates now deceased. Walter worked in the power industry all his life as an Engineer, his final years at Skelton Grange in Leeds. The Power Station site recently converted into a motorway service area.

Walter gave consent for publication of all stories about his life in Leeds and his time with the Navy Mine-sweepers protecting convoys sailing to Russia.