AFTER reading the reminiscences of Cyril Coleridge (Oxford Mail, March 9), I could see the striking resemblance to his father Frank, whom I had the great pleasure to meet when I was a production worker at the then Morris Motors car plant in Cowley.

I applied to join the works fire brigade as a part-time fireman because of the frequency of stoppages of work and shut-outs due to union militancy. On those shut-outs one reported to the fire station to practice fire drills.

It was on being accepted that I first met Frank, who happened to be in the process of making a cup of tea along with the fire chief, Charlie Ham, from Horspath Road. He was with second officer Tom Long and Arthur Huntley, both from Hollow Way Road.

I found Frank to be a rather quiet, unassuming gentleman who related to me that he lived in the thatched cottage in Temple Road and was responsible for the upkeep of the station and fire appliances, which included a museum appliance – a horse-drawn fire engine, which I recall later was taken to the former Morris Motors sports field off Crescent Road, where he demonstrated its capabilities by proving that it was just as efficient as a modern appliance in pumping water.

Incidentally, due to the frequency of union behaviour, I eventually was proficient enough to become a member of a five-man competition crew, which resulted in winning three national trophies which each of us retained.

Thank you brothers.

D ROTHERY, Horspath Road, Cowley, Oxford