There are easy ways to travel from Reading to Oxford, but these hardy folk decided to do it the hard way.

Six firemen from the Oxford city brigade and several willing helpers pushed an old fire engine 29 miles to raise money for the Fire Service Benevolent Fund.

The team are seen handing over a cheque for £430 to Eric Harris, fifth from the right, the fund’s local secretary, in November 1973.

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The brigade’s chief fire officer, Sidney Boulter, on the extreme right, is seen receiving a large coloured cartoon of the sponsored walk, to hang in the fire station in Rewley Road.

He said he was very proud of the team, adding: “I must confess I never thought they would do it.”

There was more praise from Sid Faulkner, the brigade’s trainer manager and retired fireman, who joined the walk himself. He said it had been a great success.

The firemen who took part were leader Mick Strange, Brian Poyser, Brian Nash, Pat Rosum, Doug Boore and John Lowe, with Roy Cox in the supporting jeep.

Oxford firemen had enjoyed their best fundraising period, having raised more than £1,000 for the benevolent fund between 1971 and 1973.

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The event was one of the last to be organised during the reign of the Oxford City Fire Brigade.

A few months later, it would be absorbed in the county brigade to form Oxfordshire Fire Service.

Rewley Road is a 24 hour crewed and on-call fire station close to Oxford railway station.

To find out more about becoming a full or part-time firefighter visit the county council website oxfordshire.gov.uk/council/working-oxfordshire-county-council/fire-service-recruitment

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF