IT WAS all hands to the pump when Sandford Paper Mill caught fire.

Sixty firemen from seven brigades fought the blaze, one of the biggest in the Oxford area for many years – and were helped by scores of volunteers.

The alarm was raised just before 9pm on June 18, 1957 when a man, who had been drinking in the garden of the Kings Arms pub next door, ran into the bar shouting: “The mill’s on fire.”

Pub manager Kay Moffett, who was serving behind the bar, said: “For a moment, we thought it was a hoax, but one glance out of the window told us it certainly was not.”

Another witness, who was crossing Sandford Lock, said: “It looked as though someone had opened a bucket of flame – it just shot up and within five minutes, it was a roaring blaze.”

Among those who helped fire crews were 18 members of the North Berkshire Sea Scouts, who crossed the river from Kennington.

Their Scoutmaster, Mr A G Stanley, said: “We were here just as the first fire engine arrived and helped run out hoses and move furniture from the pub.”

Workers on the mill night shift and other volunteers pushed lorries to safety in the yard. Holidaymakers on a nearby caravan site also turned out to help.

Three firemen were hurt during the four-hour task of subduing the flames.

The fire started in a building where resin used to glaze paper was processed, which is a highly flammable operation. It then spread to the adjoining mill.

The site was originally a corn mill and is recorded in 1100 as being owned by local monks to produce flour for bread-making.

It was converted into a paper mill in 1826 to supply the increasing demands of Oxford University.

It closed on Christmas Eve 1982, to be replaced by waterfront housing.

Any memories of the fire or the mill to share with readers?