Newbury firefighters mop up at charity car wash

Elbow grease raises £1,000

Newbury firefighters raised a sparkling £1,000 for charity at a car wash at the station on Saturday.

Organiser at the Hawthorn Road station, firefighter Richie Cooper, said the cash would be split between the Fire Fighters Charity and Priors Court School.

He said: “We had a great turnout of volunteers and plenty of cars to wash so all in all it was a very good day.”

The Fire Fighters Charity provides a wide range of services for fire service personnel and their families, including therapy and rehabilitation for injured crew.

Priors Court, in Hermitage, provides specialist services for young people with autism, learning difficulties and complex needs.

Mr Cooper, from the station’s Green Watch, said: “The Fire Fighters Charity offers fantastic services for everyone who works for the fire and rescue service and their loved ones, so we wanted to show our appreciation by giving something back to them.

“We also decided to support Prior’s Court because it is a local organisation that does amazing work to support young people with autism.

“A few of us will also be taking part in a Newbury-to-Paris cycle ride in June, hoping to raise even more money for both the charities.”

Other local fire stations which held charity fundraising car washes on Saturday included Dee Road, Tilehurst, who raised just over £500 for the Fire Fighters Charity.