The Leas School,  Hoylake

Serious Fire Averted

Hoylake School Discovery

The likelihood of a serious fire at The Leas School, Hoylake, was averted last night through a fortunate discovery by the caretaker's son. The school is empty during the summer holidays and is being decorated.

The caretaker, Mr. L. Quilliam, who lives in a bungalow in the school's extensive grounds, is away at present and his son, Mr. Michael Quilliam, aged 18, said he had been out during the afternoon, and decided to walk through the school to see if any mail had arrived at the midday delivery.

"I opened one of the doors on the ground floor and saw the whole place was full of smoke. I immediately telephoned the fire brigade," said Michael, a student at Wallasey Technical College.

"It was pure luck that I went through the building at that particular time. I should not think anybody else would have gone through the school last night."

Damage

Three appliances from Hoylake and Heswall fire stations were called to the scene shortly after 7.30 p.m. and the firemen had the outbreak under control quickly, confining the blaze to a ground floor room. They remained on the premises for about 45 minutes. There was damage to about three-quarters of the contents of the room.

The officer in charge of the Hoylake fire crews said: "It was certainly fortunate that Mr. Quilliam spotted the fire. The damage was slight compared to what it might have been. Had it got a good hold, it could have gone through all the building.

"There was quite considerable damage to the furniture in the one room. It was a smouldering fire which appeared to have been burning for some time."

The Leas is a private boarding school for boys in Meols Drive. Among its distinguished former pupils is Mr. Selwyn Lloyd, M.P. for Wirral.