CHIGLEY EPISODE 8

Episode 8. The Broken Bridge

IN BRIEF - Chigley Bridge is put out of use following high rainfall (yes,rain).And with Cresswell's vans needing to leave on time,everyone quickly rallies round to build a temporary alternative.

We meet Mr.Carraway outside his shop and join him on a delivery as he takes 3 boxes of plaice to the Biscuit Factory for their restaurant.In a conversation with Mr.Cresswell we learn it's been raining so much recently that rivers are swollen and fields are under water ! And PC McGarry turns up to inform them that Chigley Bridge "is unsafe and closed to all traffic" and that the only alternative,"Trimbridge Road",is also impassable.



Unfortunately,Cresswell's vans have to leave in a couple of hours time.But Carraway says he overheard Captain Snort talking about "army bridge building exercises" the other day.Cresswell rings him about the construction of a temporary bridge and he's happy to oblige of course,but has to ring Lord B because his equipment's at Treddles Wharf and the floodwater means he can't get to it.So it's Bessie to the rescue once more.Stopping off at the Pottery so Winnie can go along for the ride,it's a quick turnaround at the Wharf where Mr.Swallow cranes the bridge sections on board and then off to Chigley Bridge.But we cut instead to the Pippin Forters,and ride along with them in their army truck.



Shortly after they arrive,Bessie pulls up and so do Messrs Carraway & Cresswell in the fish van.



Unfortunately,the soldier boys are on one side of the river and everyone else on the other.And there's no crane either. So it's just as well that Mr.Carraway had had the foresight to stop off at a phonebox on the way to call his old friend Mr.Dagenham,who duely arrives in his helicopter.



Meek,Lumley & Armitage are carried across hanging on to the end of a rope.And we cut to a view of the new,temporary bridge that's been completed in "under 2 hours" with the help of ground-to-air radio communication between Dagenham and Cptn. Snort.Problem solved.Mr.Carraway has the honour of being the 1st across as it was his idea,when Lord B suddenly realises it's that time of day again and we cut away to the 6 o'clock whistle and dance.



TRIVIA:- Carraway crosses Chigley Bridge to get to Cresswell's & there's a very visible crack when he does.So it could easily have ended up with the Fishmonger 'swimming with the fishes' -now there's a thought.