THE demolition of the fire station and the adjacent building at Longbridge signals the end of any pre-war connection with the former Austin Motor Company. It is a sad day for the many former employees who once worked at this world famous company.

With the last part of the demolition now complete, my articles recording the history, which have featured in the Advertiser, have come to an end.

It is nice to report that people are still sending me interesting memorabilia, the latest being two sales brochures, in colour, from 1931 and between 1935-36.

I would like to thank the many people who have contributed to my comprehensive collection of Austin-Longbridge history and hope it will continue.

It will all, eventually, be posted on John Baker’s website, austinmemories.com, for future generations to know what the company was all about, especially the part it played in those troubled war years making anything from a small bullet to Lancaster bombers.

Keith Woodfield, Austin historian, Droitwich Spa