The Chilton community has rallied together to raise over £900 to buy a replacement shed for local allotment holder David Brown following a devastating fire, proving that the town pulls together to support each other in times of crisis, writes Sue Reece.
The fundraising campaign was kicked off after town councillors met with David and his family following the fire, and Pearl Malpas, who serves as the Chilton Town Council Allotment Committee Chair put out an urgent call for help.
The fire broke out around 10:00 pm on the evening of 6 June, quickly sweeping through the allotment and destroying the shed, fence and damaging greenhouse glass. For David Ward, who was recently widowed, his allotment plot and shed served as a vital, peaceful daily sanctuary a place to sit and remember his late wife, Eileen. Tragically, the contents of the shed were entirely destroyed by the flames with the single, miraculous exception of Eileen’s “Queen of the Garden” mug which survived the fire intact.
The community and local contractors immediately stepped forward to help, Jimmy Tyres “All Round Ground” arrived quickly on-site to secure the fence and ensure the plot was safe; Stewy Bulmer stepped in to supply a commercial skip to dispose of the heavy, burnt ruins and members of the community allotment worked side-by-side with the family to clear away the remaining debris.
The practical response on the ground was more than matched by the community’s financial generosity, with donations received in excess of £900 to fund a high-quality replacement shed to help David start anew.
Pearl Malpas said, “I was delighted that the appeal for help struck a chord across the town, highlighting not only the Chilton community spirit but also the vital role these spaces play in providing comfort and connection for local life.”
The successful installation of David’s brand-new replacement shed has now taken place and to make the new sanctuary truly special, local community member Michael Foster crafted and added a beautiful bespoke wooden name plate to the structure.
The immense wave of support has deeply moved the family. Expressing her profound appreciation for the town’s quick response, David’s daughter, Joanne Tomlinson, shared a heartfelt statement:
“From the bottom of our hearts my family and my dad are so grateful for all of the help, donations and kind words. It has most definitely restored his faith in humankind again.”
Sue Reece
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
