A volunteer police officer who found himself at the centre of one of Swindon’s most dramatic incidents of recent years has spoken about the moments following the Groundwell Industrial Estate explosion that shocked the town last autumn.
As part of Volunteers’ Week, Wiltshire Police has highlighted the work of Special Constable Calvin Caunter, who was among the first to respond when an explosion tore through a factory unit on the Groundwell Industrial Estate on the evening of 24 September 2025.
For Calvin, what began as a routine patrol quickly became something far more serious.
Based at Gablecross Police Station, he currently serves as Divisional Lead for the Swindon Special Constabulary, overseeing a team of around 30 volunteer officers who support policing operations across the town.
Alongside his policing duties, Calvin works in communications within the construction industry and balances his volunteer role with family life as a father of two.
Recalling the events of that September evening, he said he and a fellow Special Constable were nearing the end of their shift after dealing with an unrelated incident when they came across a vehicle suffering mechanical difficulties.
While escorting the vehicle into the industrial estate, everything changed in an instant.
“The van shook. A wall of heat hit the windscreen. Ahead, a fireball rose into the darkness,” he said.
With little time to process what had happened, Calvin immediately radioed the force control room and drove towards the scene.
Arriving moments later, he found the building engulfed in flames and quickly realised the seriousness of the situation.
“The drive into the industrial estate was marked by a growing sense of dread, as I feared I could be heading towards an incident involving multiple casualties, but instinct and training quickly took over,” he said.
As emergency services raced to the scene, Calvin declared a major incident, requested additional resources and helped establish safety cordons around the area.
One man emerged from the damaged building and informed officers he had been working alone at the time of the explosion, easing fears that others may have been trapped inside.
Within minutes, senior officers arrived to take command of the response while volunteer officers continued supporting road closures and public safety measures.
According to Calvin, around 10 Special Constables were on duty across Swindon that evening, providing additional support during the emergency.
The incident drew national and international attention at the time, with dramatic images of the blaze widely shared as firefighters battled the flames.
While the explosion represented one of the most challenging moments of his service, Calvin says volunteering remains one of the most rewarding commitments he has ever undertaken.
Having joined Wiltshire Police during the Covid pandemic, he has become a passionate advocate for the Special Constabulary and is particularly keen to encourage people from all backgrounds to consider volunteering.
“I am proud of the work we do to prevent crime, protect our open spaces and support local partners,” he said.
“I am especially passionate about making sure our volunteers feel valued, supported and are given the training they need to succeed.”
He added that community policing remains at the heart of the role.
“For me, policing is about service, dedication and making a difference when it matters most.”
Wiltshire Police is currently recruiting new Special Constables. Volunteers are required to commit at least 16 hours per month and receive training to support frontline policing alongside regular officers.
As stories like Calvin’s demonstrate, while the role is voluntary, the responsibility — and sometimes the challenges — can be very real indeed.
