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Cheshire flour mill explosion: Victims' relatives search for owner of company that operated blast-stricken building Cheshire flour mill explosion: Victims' relatives search for owner of company that operated blast-stricken building
(about 2 hours later)
Charles Boden is not normally shy of the limelight. And rightly so, for agriculturally speaking his flock of pedigree Texel sheep, not to mention his 80-strong herd of prize-winning Charolais cattle, are celebrated national champions. Charles Boden is not normally shy of the limelight. And rightly so, for agriculturally speaking his flock of pedigree Texel sheep, not to mention his 80-strong herd of prize-winning Charolais cattle are celebrated national champions.
The achievements of this 52-year-old Cheshire squire have earned him the nickname “King Charlie” in show circles. He is still the only breeder to have won first, second and third places in the Sire of the Year awards at the Texel Sheep Society. The animal husbandry achievements of this 52-year-old Cheshire squire have led him to be dubbed “King Charlie” in show circles. He is still the only breeder to have achieved first, second and third places in the prestigious annual Sire of the Year awards at the Texel Sheep Society.
His desire and determination to pay top prices for the best animals is well known in auction circles from Aberdeen to Welshpool. His eye for a fine beast resulted in him paying a breed record 70,000 guineas for supreme champion Barnsford Ferny – judgement rewarded when Prince Charles later awarded the Charolais best in show. His desire and determination to pay top prices for the best animals is well known in auction circles from Aberdeen to Welshpool. His eye for a fine beast resulted in him paying a breed record 70,000 guineas for supreme champion Barnsford Ferny – judgment rewarded when Prince Charles later awarded the Charolais best in show.
But Mr Boden was less conspicuous this week when journalists sought out the owners of a wood mill in Bosley, near Macclesfield in Cheshire, which was destroyed in an explosion and blaze that fire services were still tackling a week later. But Mr Boden was less conspicuous this week when journalists sought out the owners of a wood mill at Bosley, near Macclesfield in Cheshire, which was devastated in an explosion and fire that fire services were still tackling one week later.
The bodies of three mill workers have been recovered from the ruins and police said they were hopeful of finding the body of a missing fourth worker – believed to be Jason Shingler, 38 – on 25 July. The three bodies recovered are believed to be those of Dorothy Bailey, 62, a grandmother of Bosley, Derek Moore, 62, of Stoke on Trent, and 51-year-old William Barks.
Tributes left for William Barks, 51, who is thought to have died in the huge explosion at Wood Treatment Limited plant (PA)Tributes left for William Barks, 51, who is thought to have died in the huge explosion at Wood Treatment Limited plant (PA)
The bodies of three mill workers have been recovered from the ruins and police said yesterday they were expecting to find the body of a missing fourth worker – believed to be Jason Shingler, 38 – today. The three bodies recovered are believed to be those of Dorothy Bailey, 62, of Bosley, Derek Moore, 62, of Stoke on Trent, and 51-year-old William Barks, from Leek. Mr Boden is a director of Wood Treatment Ltd, the company that operated the blast-stricken mill, and reporters were anxious to put to him comments from Mr Barks’ brother, Kelvin who said his relative had previously described the factory as a “disaster waiting to happen”.
Mr Boden is a director of Wood Treatment Ltd, which operated the mill, and reporters were anxious to put to him comments from Mr Barks’ brother, Kelvin, who said William had previously described the factory as a “disaster waiting to happen”. The mill owners failed to buy parts for a faulty machine despite his brother’s “relentless” requests, Kelvin Barks said. “He’d always have discussions [with me] saying it’s a disaster waiting to happen... and unfortunately it’s taken his life before he had the chance to get out,” he told ITV News.
One of the mill machines was “running hot” and required a certain type of lubricant. “Relentlessly, he tried to get stuff ordered and a lot of the time he was refused; unless it stopped that mill, they wouldn’t buy parts for it,” he said.
A joint investigation by police, fire and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officials is being carried out into the causes of the explosion and it is unclear the machinery mentioned was linked to the explosion. The investigation will continue this weekend but the mill’s troubled health and safety record has already emerged.
Family and friends gather at St Mary the Virgin Church in Bosley for a church service seven days on from the explosionFamily and friends gather at St Mary the Virgin Church in Bosley for a church service seven days on from the explosion
The mill owners failed to buy parts for a faulty machine despite his brother’s “relentless” requests, Kelvin Barks said. “He’d always have discussions [with me] saying it’s a disaster waiting to happen… and unfortunately it’s taken his life before he had the chance to get out,” he told ITV News. One of the mill machines was “running hot” and required a certain type of lubricant. “Relentlessly, he tried to get stuff ordered and a lot of the time he was refused; unless it stopped that mill, they wouldn’t buy parts for it,” he said. The site, which featured industrial-scale grinding and milling of waste wood and other organic material into a flour which was used in a variety products including cat litter, animal bedding and biomass wood fuel, had been hit by fires in 2010 and 2012. Its insurers warned them to improve fire protection after one blaze and they introduced a series of measures including an online fire awareness training system to “ensure its staff are equipped to prevent a fire emergency”.
A joint investigation is being carried out by police, fire and Health and Safety Executive officials, and it is unclear whether the machinery mentioned was linked to the explosion. The investigation will continue this weekend but details of the mill’s troubled health and safety record have already emerged. HSE inspectors warned the company of a risk of an explosion two years ago and served an improvement notice on it. Inspectors said the firm failed to ensure the risk of fire or explosion from liquid petroleum gas stored on site. The company later complied later with it.
The site, which featured industrial-scale grinding and milling of waste wood and other organic material into a flour which was used in a variety of products including cat litter, animal bedding and biomass wood fuel, had been hit by fires in 2010 and 2012. Its insurers warned them to improve fire protection after one blaze and the company introduced a series of measures including an online fire awareness training system to “ensure its staff are equipped to prevent a fire emergency”. Its wider approach to safety was called into question when in August 2014 it was hit with a prohibition notice after inspectors said employees working at height were in danger.
HSE inspectors warned the company of a risk of an explosion two years ago and served an improvement notice on it. Inspectors said the firm failed to ensure the risk of fire or explosion from liquid petroleum gas stored on site was eliminated or minimised. The company later complied.
 
Its wider approach to safety was called into question when in August 2014 it was served with a prohibition notice after inspectors said employees working at height were in danger.
Yet the company was still planning to expand. It had approval to build a biomass plant using waste wood on the site where the explosion occurred, as well as a second plant in Wigan. East Cheshire council approved the plan, which would process 45,000 tonnes of waste wood a year to power 11,000 homes.Yet the company was still planning to expand. It had approval to build a biomass plant using waste wood on the site where the explosion occurred, as well as a second plant in Wigan. East Cheshire council approved the plan, which would process 45,000 tonnes of waste wood a year to power 11,000 homes.
Mr Boden was unavailable for comment last night  but the company said it was “shocked and saddened” by the incident.Mr Boden was unavailable for comment last night  but the company said it was “shocked and saddened” by the incident.