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| Alfreton tornado brings couple together one year on | Alfreton tornado brings couple together one year on |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man who had part of his home destroyed after a tornado hit a town in Derbyshire said it has resulted in the happiest period of his life. | A man who had part of his home destroyed after a tornado hit a town in Derbyshire said it has resulted in the happiest period of his life. |
| The roof of William Sitch's house in Catherine Street, Alfreton, was ripped off when the whirlwind wreaked havoc on 8 October 2014. | The roof of William Sitch's house in Catherine Street, Alfreton, was ripped off when the whirlwind wreaked havoc on 8 October 2014. |
| With nowhere to live, he moved in with a childhood friend and in February they were engaged to be married. | With nowhere to live, he moved in with a childhood friend and in February they were engaged to be married. |
| His partner's son said the twister "had been a blessing" for the couple. | His partner's son said the twister "had been a blessing" for the couple. |
| Oli Constable, 20, said Mr Sitch, 51, and his mother, Sandra, aged 51, had already been reunited before the high winds but were living separately. | Oli Constable, 20, said Mr Sitch, 51, and his mother, Sandra, aged 51, had already been reunited before the high winds but were living separately. |
| He said following the tornado, which the Met Office said was caused by "volatile and unstable air", the pair moved in together. | He said following the tornado, which the Met Office said was caused by "volatile and unstable air", the pair moved in together. |
| Mr Constable said after the initial shock, Mr Sitch was pragmatic about the damage to his house. | Mr Constable said after the initial shock, Mr Sitch was pragmatic about the damage to his house. |
| He said: "Nothing really fazes him, he was a bit like 'let's move on'. | |
| "It's been the best thing that ever happened to him... [He and my mother] are now together and they're happy." | "It's been the best thing that ever happened to him... [He and my mother] are now together and they're happy." |
| Mr Sitch told BBC Radio Derby: "We ended up spending so much time together we [now] don't want to be parted. | Mr Sitch told BBC Radio Derby: "We ended up spending so much time together we [now] don't want to be parted. |
| "[On the day of the tornado] I slowly walked towards [the scene] and realised it was my house that was roofless. [I had feelings of] disbelief and panic, did I renew my insurance?" | "[On the day of the tornado] I slowly walked towards [the scene] and realised it was my house that was roofless. [I had feelings of] disbelief and panic, did I renew my insurance?" |
| Along with Mr Sitch's house, a number of homes and vehicles were damaged by flying bricks and debris. | Along with Mr Sitch's house, a number of homes and vehicles were damaged by flying bricks and debris. |
| Witnesses described a "film scene" as the tornado ripped down lampposts and trees in Mansfield Road and Catherine Street. | Witnesses described a "film scene" as the tornado ripped down lampposts and trees in Mansfield Road and Catherine Street. |
| Mr Sitch's roof and supporting wall have since been repaired but he is now living in Chesterfield. | Mr Sitch's roof and supporting wall have since been repaired but he is now living in Chesterfield. |