Hero "overwhelmed" by touching message from brothers he saved from Lancaster fire 35 years ago

Friday, 25 April 2025 09:24

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Chris Nicholson with a framed message from two brothers he saved from a fire in Lancaster

An Armed Forces veteran from Morecambe who saved a family from a burning Lancaster flat 35 years ago has received a touching message from the brothers he rescued.

Chris Nicholson was honoured for his bravery in a surprise presentation organised by friends at Embargo pub in Morecambe.

Chris rescued Andrea Archer and her sons Stuart, then 10, and Mark, then eight, from a block of flats in Skerton in 1990.

A local newspaper report at the time, said that Mrs Archer and her two sons were all asleep at their first floor flat in Mainway, unaware that fire was spreading in a neighbouring flat on the same landing.

Mr Nicholson, who lived nearby, banged on the door, waking Mrs Archer up.

She woke her sons and together, they led the boys to safety past the burning flat, the landing full of flames and smoke.

"As we went past the window, I told them all to bob down because I could see the glass was bubbling," said Mr Nicholson at the time.

Seconds later, there was an explosion and flames shot out across the landing "like a flame thrower" said Chris.

The newspaper report goes on to say that Chris knocked on the doors of other flats on the landing to make sure everyone was safe.

Mrs Archer, speaking at the time, said he'd been "terrific" and "if not for him, we would not have known anything about the fire".

Stuart said that "without Chris telling me to bob down as I went past the window, my face would have been full of glass."

When friends of Mr Nicholson found out about the rescue, many years later, they decided to organise a special gift for him.

They got in touch with Stuart and Mark Kennedy, now in their 40s, and organised a presentation at Embargo on Wednesday afternoon.

Chris is pictured below with friends from Embargo pub in Morecambe after the presentation

Chris, now aged 71 and living in Morecambe, was given a framed copy of the newspaper article from 1990, which hailed him as a hero, and a framed message from the brothers which said:

"Hi Chris, it's Stuart and Mark, the brothers you saved from the fire in 1990.

"We just wanted to say a massive thank you for your bravery and what you did for us that night.

"We have never forgotten it, even after 30 plus years.

"To do what you did that night when you didn't have to was such a courageous thing to do, and you were rightly hailed a hero for it. And to us you still are.

"We would love to meet and catch up with you in the near future if you are up for it."

Mr Nicholson, who served in the parachute regiment, had no idea the presentation was happening, as his friends had told him they were meeting in Embargo to celebrate barmaid Ann Cardwell's birthday.

But instead, Embargo owner Richard Westbury gave a speech to the packed pub, saying: "Whilst in discussion in the pub a while ago, it came to light that (in the 1990s), Chris had rescued brothers Stuart and Mark from a house fire in Lancaster.

"After some thought, his friends looked into it, and we all agreed that such a brave act should not be forgotten, so we have organised this little get-together today to say well done mate, and to show that we appreciate your actions sincerely."

After a huge round of applause in the pub, a visibly emotional Chris said "that's great, thank you, I can't thank you enough".

He said he was "overwhelmed" and that he'd love to meet up with the family again in future.

Chris is pictured below with Richard Westbury, owner of Embargo, and Chris's friend Andy Tolley

Stuart, posting on the Lancaster Past and Present Facebook group, said: "So sorry I couldn't be there yesterday, but have said to Ann I'll arrange to meet him in the pub sometime soon when he's there. Want to thank him again in person for what he did for us.

"Really looking forward to seeing him."