Cecil Kimbers Accident

[C Sherriff]

A couple people have mailed me asking how Cecil Kimber met his end. It was a stupid accident - he attended a business meeting and caught a train to Peterborough from Kings Cross Station. When the trains leave Kings Cross there is a famous incline and two engines were always used in those days. However on this occasion only one engine was used, and the track was not sanded, and the train ran back. A signalman seeing this, and seeing another train still in the platform, switched the points in order to prevent Kimbers train hitting the other train (which turned out to be empty) and the rolling train hit the points and the rear carriage uverturned killing Kimber and three others. The train was travelling at just 4 miles an hour!! The dedication page of Maintaining the Breed says:- To Frankie Taylor who went out the way he would have wished (had he thought about it) and To Cecil Kimber who certainly did not Thats what that dedication is all about. Regards Clive