"Beer casks could be heard exploding in the heat. The roaring sound was the asbestos roof cracking, sending sparks high in the air..."
Dave is 53 years old and lives with his wife in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. He enjoys cycling, horse riding and watching videos about steam railways. He has worked for Kipling Cakes for 25 years.
My story is about a fire that broke out at 'The Gaiety,' a huge entertainment venue at a Butlins holiday camp where I worked. I wanted to tell my story as I am alarmed at the number of derelict buildings that are deliberately set alight. I hope my story will demonstrate how quickly a fire can spread. I hope those who are thinking of starting a fire will consider the fire brigade and the demolition men who will have to make the wreckage safe.
I was working at Butlins Pwllheli in 1973, as a cook by day and bar waiter by night, often in the Blinking Owl, a saloon bar in the Gaiety,
a huge building where most of the entertainment was. It was August. This one night, I finished work at around half eleven and went to bed, just to be woken at 1.30am by a loud roaring sound. Too tired to care I tried to sleep through it. Just after 2am my chalet mate returned and announced that the Gaiety was on fire. I got dressed and we both made our way there. It was warmer than it had been all day. We could easily get close to the fire. All we could see of the upper floor was burning. Beer casks could be heard exploding in the heat. The roaring sound was the asbestos roof cracking, sending sparks high in the air. The next day, I knew my parents would've heard of the fire on the radio. I just had to let them know I was OK. The fire had burnt all the phone lines to call boxes on the camp and the one call box on the road outside had a long queue. There was, however, a call box in the village of Chwilog, a 30 minute walk away. My parents didn't have a phone, but I had a plan. I'd phone Radio Stoke and ask if they'd broadcast a message. I just managed to leave the call box number before running out of money. Disappointed I walked 10 minutes back when I thought maybe they'd accept a reverse charge call. Back I went with high hopes to find the call box was ringing. It was Radio Stoke's newsroom. They recorded what I had to say for their news bulletin. I not only put my parents' minds at rest but also the relatives of others holidaying at the camp. Nobody was hurt. I found out later that the cause of the fire was electrical. It could've started at any time. Thank goodness it didn't when the building was full. I never forget that summer. Who'd have thought that, although I was so far away from home, it would be Radio Stoke that came to my rescue! | 
