Nigel Watson

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Our dear friend has just suffered a catastrophe... I just got off the phone with him and post this with his permission. Read and weep:

Gutted: blaze destroys hangar full of vintage vehicles

A massive aircraft hangar near Perth, filled with “irreplaceable” vintage, classic and military vehicles, was completely destroyed by fire today .
The contents of the warehouse represented the livelihood of Nigel Watson, a Dundee businessman, well-known in tennis circles.
It seems unlikely that anything will be salvageable in the aftermath of the devastating blaze, which left the huge hangar buckled.

Firefighters were called out to Dalcrue, near Almondbank, around five miles from Perth, shortly before 6.30 am.

When they arrived at the 100-metre by 50-metre warehouse, it was clear fire had taken its grip and the building had been ablaze for some time.

Crews used an aerial ladder to tackle the fire as a partial collapse had made any internal work potentially very dangerous.

“The corrugated steel building, which contained vintage vehicles, had been burning for a considerable period by the time we were called out at 6.28 am,” said a fire brigade spokesman.

“A full cordon was set up and a partial collapse meant we had to fight the fire defensively from the outside with the aid of an aerial platform.”

At the time of going to press, fire crews were undertaking a further risk assessment at the site and were involved in damping down.

However, it was clear that most, if not all of the hangar’s contents, had been completely destroyed by the blaze.

Mr Watson leased the hangar from Scone Estates and the contents represented his livelihood.

“The warehouse was filled with vintage, military and classic vehicles, some of which are irreplaceable,” he said.

“It was a private collection and there were some rare vehicles.

“I do not really want to say how many vehicles have been destroyed and it is too early to even give a ball-park value,” Mr Watson continued.

“I was at home when I received a call about the blaze — it is very upsetting.

“The vehicles were in pretty good condition and were used in shows and exhibitions — it was my livelihood,” he added.

An investigation into how the blaze started is being carried out.

*In 2002 Mr Watson drove a Bren gun carrier at the 60th anniversary of El Alamein in Perth. It is unclear whether it was one of the vehicles destroyed in today’s fire.

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/ou...6718471t0.shtm

Please join me in offering warmest regards to Nigel et al. I cannot imagine such a thing happening.