Derek Poole, beloved grass track racer, dies in Selston explosion investigation

The explosion that tore through a bungalow on Church Lane in Selston left behind a scene now at the centre of an urgent investigation, and a community trying to understand how a familiar home became a fatal fire scene. Nottinghamshire Police said a body was later found in the wreckage, after emergency crews were called at 7:18pm on Saturday, 9 May, following an explosion inside the property.

Derek Poole, who lived in Selston with his wife of 40 years, was known locally as a man who loved cars and spent time around engines, workshops and racing circles. His family said he used to be a grass track racer and had previously owned a garage and haulage company. In the Nottingham autograss community, he was described as a “true gentleman” and a racing “superstar”, a sign of how widely he was known beyond his own street.

Fire crews from Ashfield, Alfreton, Eastwood and Ripley were sent to the scene as nearby residents were evacuated and people were told to avoid the area. Road closures were put in place during the emergency before later being lifted. By about 9:50pm, the fire was under control, although one crew stayed overnight as officers and firefighters continued to secure the site and assess what had happened.

The man discovered in the wreckage was said by police to be aged in his 90s, and a post-mortem examination is due to take place in due course. Nottinghamshire Police and Notts Fire and Rescue Service are now working together to establish the cause of the explosion and the fire that followed, with the investigation expected to examine not only the property itself but also whether any wider safety lessons apply to similar homes, garages or fuel-storage set-ups.

Officers said they remained in close contact with the family and thanked members of the public for their patience while the investigation continued. For Selston, the immediate focus remains on the unanswered questions at Church Lane: what ignited the blast, whether anything could have warned of the danger, and what can be done to reduce the risk to other properties like it.