At the Fire Station today there was a second book sale – following on from the one last summer. Funds raised go to the Fire Fighters Charity. It will probably be the last such book sale – for a while at least, because all the remaining books are to be donated to other fund raising causes.

Traffic was congested in Ock Street this morning, but if there had been a fire then the engine was already to go. Over the last couple of weeks the more serious fires attended by the Abingdon firemen have been in places like Wallingford, Didcot, and Oxford – so the message must be getting through Fit smoke alarms …

A group of 21, 17 female and 4 male, gathered in the King Charles Room, at the Kings Head and Bell, two hours before the fire walk. The Firewalk was to raise funds for Against Breast Cancer. The instructors explained that it could be dangerous, the embers over which we were to walk were burning at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, so we needed to follow their instructions.

Half way through the training we went to view the fire. It felt cold outside until we stood round the fire.

The next time we came out chanting “Firewalk” as we approached the Market Place we did not notice the cold. The flames were gone and the hot embers raked. A crowd stood round. We had been told not to acknowledge people but keep our focus. Despite the fear, we had felt before the training started, every firewalker strode across the embers, without hesitation. The training was excellent. (My pictures less so – so please send if you have any.)

The Mayor presented certificates afterwards and said it was a cause close to her heart. Pat Leathem and she were theatre nurses at the Churchill Hospital where breast surgery was carried out. Dr Anthony Leatham used to ‘shake a tin’ at a tube station to raise money. The media got to hear about it and the publicity meant that Against Breast Cancer was started and Pat left to work with it full time.