The tragic death of a firefighter half a century ago has been remembered with a service at Maidstone Fire Station.

It was exactly 50 years ago today when firemen Malcolm Farrow suffered fatal burns when the appliance in which he was travelling while answering a 'shout' crashed in College Road, Maidstone .

Mr Farrow subsequently died in hospital from his injuries.

Seven other firemen were involved in the crash and considered themselves lucky to survive after the tender hit a tree and burst into flames.

Only three of the eight-men crew are still alive today - Peter Whent, Tony Bush and Don Bates. All three were at today's event at the station in Loose Road - where they were all based at the time.

The widows and children of some of the other crew members were also present.

Members of the station on duty stood to attention outside the station, and the Rev Andrew Royal, the minister of the United Reformed Church in Maidstone's Week Street, began a service.

Sadly his voice was defeated by the roar of the traffic rushing past on the Loose Road and after a short while, at the suggestion of the station commander, the ceremony re-located to the rear of the appliance bay and began again.

Mr Farrow was just 26 at the time of his death. His father, Albert Farrow, was also a fireman and had also died on duty, at a blaze at Oakwood Mental Hospital in 1957.

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