Decided to put together a little timeline/overview of the fire at The Owl/Social Centre/My Flat that happened 6 months ago today (14th June 2021), mostly for myself to look back on as I have a terrible memory so wanted to do it while I could still remember stuff. Plus I’ve always regretted not keeping a diary of my Leukaemia diagnosis and treatment to read back.
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14th June - 07:31
An Ironic Prediction
I sent the image above to work chat group, with the caption "A warm Monday already!". It was always warm in the flat because of the pub refrigeration etc all pushing out hot air.
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14th June - 10:00
Power Cut
About 10 am I had a power cut, not particularly unusual for Bromham but still annoying. Got up to go downstairs to the pub to see if was always out there or just in the flat. As I was grabbing my keys from my bedroom (luckily all in one bunch, including my car keys) the fire alarm started and I heard a lot of shouting/noise from outside on the roof by my external door. I decided even though it was a longer route I would exit the building by going down through the pub and outside that way (a good decision it turns out as my external door was right next to the fire).
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14th June - 10:05
Smokey Roof
Once I got outside I had a look what was going on and saw smoke pouring out of the roof. The cut out just below the smoke was my exterior door so think I made the right decision exiting through the pub!
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14th June - 10:11
Even Smokier Roof
We had all moved away from the building and into the car park and the smoke was starting to come out of the front of the roof now.
I think it was about this point I said to someone "Oh no I left my Office and Bedroom windows open, everything is going to be smoke damaged!" - At the time I thought that might be the worst of my problems! -
14th June - 10:15
The Sofa Bed Incident
Mother phoned me as she had heard about the fire, I told her didn't looking like I would have anywhere to live or any possessions left. Then we had this gem of a conversation:
Mother: "We'll have to get a sofa bed or something"
Me: "Yea"
Mother: "You've got a sofa bed though haven't you?"
Me: "Well yea and where's that?!?"
Me: "Oh yea!"
Classic! -
25th June
The Definition of Irony
Was walking past and spotted this shell of a burnt fire extinguisher which seemed a tad ironic.
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14th June - 10:16
The Roof, The Whole Roof and Nothing but the Roof
Another 5 minutes gone and by now the smoke was coming out the roof and the other end of the building.
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14th June - 10:22
Fire Engines
The first of many Fire Engines arrived.
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14th June - 10:25
Bye Bye Bedroom
Multiple engines now plus in a brief clearing of the smoke you can see a fairly large chunk of room missing, that area was my Bedroom.
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14th June - 10:32
Abra Cadabra - The Disappearing Roof
Middle section of the roof starting to disappear.
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14th June - 10:33
Bedroom Fire
That's my bedroom properly on fire (not that it was pretend before).
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14th June - 10:37
Ignore All My Previous Sarcasm
Phoned my Boss to let him know I wouldn't be back at work for a while. Considering my message a few hours earlier saying how warm the flat (plus the fact I'm known for being a tad sarcastic at times) it took a bit of convincing before he believed me that my flat was literally on fire.
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14th June - 10:39
The Roof, The Roof, The Roof is on Fire
Big ol' flames pouring out the far end of the roof now.
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14th June - 10:42
Chunk of Fire
That big chunk of fire on the left was my bedroom, don't think I need to worry about everything being smoke damaged now...
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14th June - 10:48
In The Middle
Middle section of the roof has completely gone.
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14th June - 10:56
I'm All Right Jack
Right side of the roof pretty much gone.
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14th June - 11:05
Single Story Building
A little over an hour after the fire started and the first floor has almost disappeared, just my possessions left burning (mostly rum and t-shirts).
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14th June - 11:06
That's Not Meant To Be On Fire
The Social Centre foyer well and truly on fire.
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14th June - 11:23
RIP Bar
We decided to wander around the side of the building (not a lot to do other than just standing there watching everything you've ever owned turn to ash).
This was the Skittle Alley and the gap above It was my Lounge / Bar (RIP). -
14th June - 11:35
I'll Just Put This Over Here With the Rest of the Fire
There's something almost eerie about the amount of fire either side and above The Owl side which escaped (almost) unscathed.
This is a reason I'm really glad I'd picked up all my keys as if my Car Key was left behind my car would have been parked right in front of there and would have been a bit damaged I think! -
14th June - 12:43
Nothing Left to Burn
The Lounge isn't on fire anymore! I think mostly because there wasn't anything left to burn.
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14th June - 13:17
There Was A First Floor?
Looking at this you wouldn't believe there was ever a first floor! (I suppose the smoke and fire engines are a bit of a clue though).
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14th June - 21:20
Background Good, Foreground Bad
Wandered back down in the evening, there was an engine staying overnight to keep an eye on things.
Was quite a beautiful sky in the background, just a shame about the destroyed building in the foreground. -
15th June - 19:00
Interview with Wiltshire Live
I had a telephone interview with Wiltshire Live, which was posted on their Facebook page.
“When I first went out and was stood in the car park, I looked up and thought ‘argh, my office and bedroom windows are open - everything’s going to get smoke damaged’, and at the time I was thinking that was going to be the worst of my issues.
“Well, it does stink of smoke now but it’s also a pile of ash”, he jested.
https://www.facebook.com/108471564673187/posts/153270780193265/ -
15th June - 22:50
ITV News
After being interviewed at Lunch time I was on the ITV Evening news (Yes I do autographs).
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17th June - 12:45
A Bomb Site
Went around the back of the Social Centre with one of the Fire Investigators and took this picture, which honestly was the Hall and not a bomb site somewhere.
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17th June - 18:30
BBC Points West
Another TV Interview for BBC this time, they spoke to my Cousin Stacey too who organised the fundraiser (which was over £12,000 by this point, crazy!!)
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25th July
Big Fella
Whilst searching for remains from the Millennium Display in the Hall this was found, my favourite mug! Mostly because it was wide enough to dunk a whole digestive without having to bite a bit off first.
Hoping to piece it together enough to put in a display case as some weird memorial thing. -
8th August
Pile of Rubble
No walls remaining now, just piles of rubble remain.
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19th August
Flat as a Pancake
Doesn't look big enough for what was there!
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24th August
All Gone
Nothing left.