Bridlington street united by tragic fire looks to the future
AS ONE pink and two blue balloons floated over Bridlington, it was a time for remembering the past and looking to the future.
The three balloons were released into the air by residents of Clarence Avenue in memory of three children killed in a house fire there.
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TRIBUTE: Residents at the street party in Clarence Avenue, Bridlington. Picture: Simon Kench
William, 9, AJ, 5, and Maddie-Jane, 3, lost their lives, while their mother Samantha Hudson suffered severe brain damage due to smoke inhalation, after a blaze broke out in their home in November last year.
While yesterday's event was intended to mark a new beginning for the street, it started in sombre fashion with a moving speech from nurse Lesley Salisbury, who tried to revive the children on the pavement in front of their home.
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After giving her speech, the balloons were released by young relatives of organiser Sue Smith and Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone was played.
Lesley, 60, told the Mail: "The balloons mark a symbolic release. This is the end of a chapter, almost.
"I've moved away from the street to North Yorkshire now and part of that decision was because of the fire.
"I don't feel I am deserting the street but I couldn't live here any longer.
"The images of that night will stay with me forever."
The £5,000 Diamond Jubilee street party was held after resident Sue, 51, wrote in to a magazine competition.
Her son Jamie, 17, and grandchildren Charlee, 5, and Harrison, 4, released the balloons in memory of Samantha's children.
Sue said: "I feel relief now – I think the whole morning was building up to the release of the balloons. Now we have done that we can hopefully all start to move on."
The speeches and balloon release were held outside Samantha's former home, which is now occupied by Emma Arpigny, 29, and her partner.
Emma said: "We get asked how can we live here all the time. But we have made this home our own.
"I suggested the balloon release and a two-minute silence so the street can have closure. I'm told the fire brought the street closer together, when everyone supported each other.
"Organising the street party has been a big job and once again everyone has been brought together. But this time it is for a good reason."
After the speech and balloon release, the emotionally-charged day switched to a more happy atmosphere.
Children played on bouncy castles and were handed balloons by a magician on stilts while adults danced to music underneath a canopy of street bunting.
After play time, a table brimming full of food was devoured by residents.
Dressed to impress was Machalla Hall, 33, who wore a vintage housewife's dress. She said: "I use any excuse to dress up, I love it.
"I think it is great the whole street has come out to help organise and enjoy the celebrations.
"We should be free to remember the children as they were and not for the fire tragedy. Now it is time to move on."
Comments
by SSmith1961
Friday, June 08 2012, 9:41PM
“this is sue smith not her son,how we choose to remember the children is not your concern.it doesnt matter if sam lived here 8 weeks or 8 days you were not here that night and did not witness the horrific scenes we did.I am not going to sling words backwards and forwards with you Andy and i put my son right about williams father.Please do not attack my 17 year old son for voicing his opinion,since the fire he does not sleep through the night and is still having counselling.Please feel free to come to the street and talk to us if you have any issues but please also remember I would not have gone ahead with anything if sams parents had disapproved,it was a wonderful day with many tears.I shall not be posting anything else on here.”
by SSmith1961
Friday, June 08 2012, 2:19AM
“Well, we thought of this as an ideal solution to remember the children. We could not muster up enough money on the anniversary, and this competition seemed as a great idea to hold a party in memory of the children and celebrate their lives. We did this purely out of the good of our hearts, with nothing but good intentions in the air. And please correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe William's blood father sadly passed away a few years ago, I believe. 8 weeks is plenty of time, and even if we didn't know them we're not allowed to celebrate their memory and lives? I can not see that we did anything wrong, if perhaps we used the children to win and then just went about it being a jubilee party then you may have a reason to be annoyed but this was not the case. The Queen was second best at the party, with the children taking top spot and it was much more of a celebration of their lives and how incredible they were.”
by andy_martin66
Thursday, June 07 2012, 10:28PM
“@ ssmith the party was a jubilee party .. Not a remembrance party. And do you honestly think there is just One set of grandparents .. .? Why weren't Williams grandparents or even his blood father asked about this? You and I qoute used this party to remember the children? Sam and the kids where on the street 8 weeks ... You didn't know them! You lay awake most nights? I cry every night and visit the grave every weekend , i have pictures festooned in my house of all three growing up .... You have no idea how much the wounds are opened every time this hits the press ... Let things lie so myself and others can learn to cope with our greif ! Every one in the street is seriously disillusioned about the extended family of our children, like I've said and many others have agreed its wrong ! If you "the street" want to commemorate the loss then do it on the anniversary and I will gladly pay ! Just don't use my babies as a trump card!!!!”
by SSmith1961
Thursday, June 07 2012, 10:03PM
“Hello, my name is Jamie Smith and I am writing this on behalf of my mother Susan Smith who won the entered the competition and won it. We understand it is a hard loss for you, being so close to them but we felt it was the right time to really push on from this tragedy and let the street move forwards. Regarding Sam's parents Sharon and Robert not knowing about the party, do you honestly believe we would of had the party without their approval? We gained their permission before we even entered the competition and they were invited to join on the day, however they felt they could not face seeing the house again which is completely understandable, and we wish them the best in their lives. They were a part of this street as well as part of your family, so we used the competition to win the party to have it in their memory, to celebrate what wonderful children they were and also to help the street move forwards. I myself still have regular counseling sessions and find myself laying awake almost every night remembering the night in great detail. As for putting the bunting up on the house, there is a wonderful family that is living their now and it was actually one of the people who live in that house who's idea it was to release the balloons and have a two minute silence in their memory. We did this party directly for the children, to remember their lives and what joy they brought to this street, which is ultimately what we achieved. There is absolutely no reason for you to feel angry towards us for entering the competition, as we were simply saying goodbye to them in a way we shall never forget, a way that will be remembered on the street for years to come.”
by andy_martin66
Wednesday, June 06 2012, 8:29PM
“Well put bagpuss1973”
by andy_martin66
Wednesday, June 06 2012, 6:09PM
“@lsmith3 how can a jubilee party be a nice idea for my children? , it wasn't arranged it was won I'm not against having the party .. But the two have nothing in common .. If the street wanted to remember my babies, I would of happily paid for a get together myself. Not one family member was contacted about this. Yes I know the memory haunts the residents. But what an inconsiderate thing to do
Andy”
by bagpuss1973
Wednesday, June 06 2012, 4:56PM
“Unfortunately Andy Mrs Salisbury seems determined to milk this tragedy at every available opportunity without a thought for such as yourself - I for one am sick of seeing her in the HDM harping on about it - I am sure you are suffering enough without her constantly re-opening the wound”
by lsmith3
Wednesday, June 06 2012, 3:46PM
“It seems this party was arranged for the right reasons, their hearts are obviously in the right place and i am sure people on the street where all deeply affected by the events of that tragic night. Having said that you cannot stop people from decorating their houses and having parties because of a past event. Its dissapointing if no one thought to get it Ok'd with the family ??, even so a nice idea to remember the children by I thought really..”
by andy_martin66
Wednesday, June 06 2012, 10:06AM
“Using the death of my children to win a competition?..
Beyond words!!!!”
by andy_martin66
Wednesday, June 06 2012, 10:03AM
“Shocking!!! After coming home from tending to the grave, I switch on the tv to see you all dancing in the street!! Did you not once think to ask us about this?
YOU may be able to move forward... But as their daddy I can't! And I speak for Williams grandparents also! How could you tie bunting to the house they perished in?
Andy Martin
William , Aj and Maddie. Love and miss you
Daddy xxx”