The West Winford Incident Read Online Free Page A

making a formal statement?”
    â€œYes, if you will…”
    The chairman leaned forward and spoke quietly.
    â€œIf you can tell us just where you were standing at the time of the incident. We have a plan view of the turbine hall on the board there and Mr Harris will mark the spot for you.”
    â€œI was between the west wall and Number 1 turbine, Sir, just alongside the L.P. cylinder.”
    â€œAbout here?” asked Mr Harris pointing to the diagram.
    â€œA bit lower, yes, there. Just talking to Harry and then this almighty bang and whoosh… it missed me by inches… I just ran for cover… I left Harry… a good mate… I just ran… I… I… Oh! God.”
    The secretary rose to comfort the man who was sobbing noisily.
    â€œI think that we’re going to have to leave it for now gentlemen. Don’t worry, Mr Winscombe, we can leave it until another time. We are likely to be several more days carrying out our enquiries.”
    *

    It was going to be so good just to be able to relax for the next few days. After showers, the happy couple went down to dinner which, together with the wine, was excellent. They left the dining room feeling pleasantly full and slightly tipsy. And so to bed. The old married pair just lay for a while holding hands, each with their own special memories. This led to an increasing level of intimacy, which was considerably more assured than had been the case on their earlier visit.
    The following days were pleasantly spent revisiting some of the places from their earlier stay, but this time they were blessed with beautiful weather. During the drive home they chatted about their new life. Dave reassured Sue that he was getting on top of the job and so he would now be working less overtime. This being the case, he thought that their next priority should be to see how they could work together to improve things for her. To Sue this was welcome news and seemed a fitting end to a wonderful break. She relaxed in her seat, at least until the Wiltshire border, when her concerns about the welfare of the family gradually infiltrated her mood. She had no cause to be anxious, she realised, when they arrived home and were showered with a week’s worth of news. Both Jo and Katy had clearly settled.

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    â€œBefore we begin formally, Mr Rolfe, may I offer you our condolences and add that you seem to have misunderstood our purpose. We are, at this stage, merely compiling witness statements of fact. There is no intention to interrogate witnesses. The only questions will be for matter of clarity.”
    â€œThat’s as maybe, but I want my union rep here all the same. Then there’ll be no misunderstandings later.”
    â€œPerhaps before you begin you could indicate where you were positioned immediately prior to the incident.”
    â€œIt was my responsibility to read the tachometer during the test. In order to fulfil my duty I was located at the governor end of Number 2 turbine on the west side of the high-pressure cylinder. I monitored the instrument reading as the speed of the turbine was increased. I would like to state at this point that it’s my belief that there is an issue of safety arising here. Turbines can be dangerous pieces of equipment even at normal running speed, so it is obvious that they present an even greater risk during overspeed…”
    â€œMr Rolfe, please could you confine yourself to your factual statement. We are just recording where witnesses were positioned and what they observed.”
    â€œThat’s as maybe, but it would be a simple matter to close off the area during overspeed testing. Bill Winscombe and poor old Harry could also have been killed, along with Terry.”
    â€œMr Rolfe, please.”
    â€œWell, the tachometer read 3,000 revs per minute while the turbine was still connected to the system. It gradually increased when the overspeed test started and we were just about at 3,250 revs when