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Carl Barlow receives his award from Sir Michael Craig-Cooper |
Hovis bike boy enjoys slice of firefighting life
Career milestone for crew manager who starred as a young actor in 1970s TV commercial
HE WAS an advertising icon of the 1970s, the boy pushing his loaf-laden bike up a hill – all for the love of Hovis bread.
But, for the past 30 years, Carl Barlow, the young actor who played the Hovis boy, has been saving lives in Islington – as a firefighter.
Crew manager Mr Barlow, now 50, has just been honoured with a long-service award for his time at Islington Fire Station.
He said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my career as a firefighter. I love the variety – you never know what’s going to happen from one day to the next. I’d definitely recommend it as a great career.”
As a boy, Mr Barlow attended drama school in his spare time and appeared in films, TV and theatre, as well as in the Hovis advert, directed by Blade Runner director Ridley Scott.
Mr Barlow, who was paid £60 for his appearance, said: “I was only 13. I walked up that hill about 60 times. We were there for two days. It was hard work but exciting. Being a young boy running up and down a hill with a bike, I had free rein.”
He added: “Working with Ridley Scott was a privilege, although at the time he hadn’t made his break into the epic films he’s now famous for. He was the most sought-after director of commercials. I remember him saying to me this was going to be one of his last commercials and he wanted to go into films.”
Mr Barlow turned his back on acting to train as a blacksmith before joining the fire brigade after spotting an ad in the paper.
He said: “I didn’t think I’d get it. Most boys dream of it. I was shocked that I did.”
He has worked at the same station, Islington, throughout his 30-year career.
Mr Barlow said: “Islington has been great. I’ve met so many good and interesting people here, some real characters. I’m the longest-serving firefighter at the station now. All my old colleagues have left.”
Over the years, Mr Barlow has attended some high-profile blazes. “The first big fire I went to was in a bedding factory,” he said. “There were over 100 firefighters there. It was quite a thrill to put my training to good use at such a huge incident.”
In 1980, he helped fight a massive blaze at Alexandra Palace. “The fire almost completely destroyed the palace,” he said. “We were there for hours trying to get it under control.”
He attended a rail crash at Cannon Street in 1991 in which two people were killed and more than 500 were injured.
“It was horrific,” he said. “We cut a young man out of the wreckage. He was trapped between the chairs.
“There’s always a danger when the bell rings. You don’t know what you’re getting into. You just rely on your training. I could retire now if I wanted to but I’m happy to go on until I can’t.”
Rescuing cats and pigeons is as much part of the job as battling flames. “The old lady with a cat – it’s like their children,” he said. “When you rescue them they are over the moon.”
Mr Barlow was presented with his plaque for long service by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Michael Craig-Cooper, at the brigade’s Southwark Training Centre. |
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