Burton Latimer - Crime: Pigs burned in farm fire 1939

Articles from Evening Telegraph March 1939

PIGS BURNED IN FARM FIRE

Mr Tom Dickens

STACK AND BUILDINGS DESTROYED AT BURTON LATIMER

A stack of straw and some farm buildings at Station Hill Farm Burton Latimer, were destroyed by fire in the early hours of today (Saturday).

The outbreak was first noticed by Mr T Dickens of 63 Alexandra Street, Burton Latimer, who rushed into a barn which was in danger and awakened a labourer, Mr J Hall, who was sleeping there.

The brigade quickly turned out under Capt. Humphrey, and the maroons summoning the men were heard at the north end of Kettering.

Mr Dickens, assisted by other helpers, liberated many of the animals. A pig was burned to death, another so badly burned that it had to be destroyed and a third was singed, ran away and has not been seen since.

The fire was soon under control, the brigade obtaining a plentiful supply of water from the Ise Brook, but the men were unable to leave for nearly four hours.

The farm is occupied by Messrs Loake Brothers. PS Richardson and PCs Albon and Underwood rendered valuable assistance.

Additional report from the Evening Telegraph 1939

RISKED LIFE FOR PIGS

Burton Man's Plucky Dash at Fire

Because he was so modest the remarkable story of a man's heroism on Saturday in risking his life at a fire to save the lives of some pigs has only just come to light.

The modest hero is Mr Tom Dickens of 23 Alexandra Street, Burton Latimer, and the fire took place at some farm buildings at Station Hill Farm, Burton Latimer, in the early hours of Saturday.

Mr Dickens was one of the first to see the fire from a distance while coming home from his work at Irthlingborough, and knowing that animals were in the blazing building he immediately cycled a mile to see what could be done.

Hearing the piteous cries of three pigs which were trapped in the sty, he went inside and got them out, though the building was blazing fiercely.

Almost immediately afterwards the blazing roof of the sty fell in.

"I did no more than anyone else would have done," he said. "The cries of the pigs were awful to listen to."

Click here for details of Loake Bros farm