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Fire at Royal Wootton Bassett Cross Keys pub | Fire at Royal Wootton Bassett Cross Keys pub |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A fire has destroyed part of a pub in Royal Wootton Bassett where bereaved families gathered for the repatriation of fallen servicemen and women. | A fire has destroyed part of a pub in Royal Wootton Bassett where bereaved families gathered for the repatriation of fallen servicemen and women. |
The roof of the Cross Keys pub in Wiltshire caught fire just before 16:00 BST on Sunday. | The roof of the Cross Keys pub in Wiltshire caught fire just before 16:00 BST on Sunday. |
About 50 firefighters attended the pub on the High Street. Investigations are continuing into how the fire started. | About 50 firefighters attended the pub on the High Street. Investigations are continuing into how the fire started. |
The pub, which is thought to be the town's oldest, was closed for refurbishment and no-one was injured. | The pub, which is thought to be the town's oldest, was closed for refurbishment and no-one was injured. |
Jan McClure, who lives behind the High Street, said: "It's a very old pub and was really the focus point for the families during the repatriation services. | Jan McClure, who lives behind the High Street, said: "It's a very old pub and was really the focus point for the families during the repatriation services. |
"It's really been damaged seriously. It's just charred, blackened, timber left now. | "It's really been damaged seriously. It's just charred, blackened, timber left now. |
"I heard the noises first, tremendous crackling and popping and banging, almost like fireworks, and then I heard the sirens. | "I heard the noises first, tremendous crackling and popping and banging, almost like fireworks, and then I heard the sirens. |
"I looked out the back of the house and there were these huge plumes of grey smoke rising up into the air." | "I looked out the back of the house and there were these huge plumes of grey smoke rising up into the air." |
'Extremely difficult fire' | |
The people of Royal Wootton Bassett started honouring the returning dead after a spontaneous gesture of respect by the mayor in 2007. | |
In the following years - until 2011 when the repatriation flights moved from RAF Lyneham to Brize Norton in Carterton - the ceremonies grew in size and saw thousands of people lining the High Street. | |
The Cross Keys pub became somewhere for the families to retreat to, away from the spotlight. | |
It was due to reopen to the public in early August following the refurbishment. | |
Local councillor Chris Wannell used to be a firefighter in the town and attended many of the repatriations. | |
"There's a lot of memories for a lot of people here, some happy memories and some sad memories.," he said. | |
"It's an iconic building on our High Street. It's a grade II listed building and the oldest coach house in the town and I trust that it will be restored to its former glory." | |
A spokesman for the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said they believe the fire started on the first floor of the two storey building. | |
Andy Hargreaves, from the service, said: "It was an extremely difficult fire, a very hot fire and on what was possibly the hottest fire fighting day of the year. | |
"A fire investigating team is looking into not only where the fire started, but how it started. But obviously that will take some time." |