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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Owner's shock at Weston pier fire | Owner's shock at Weston pier fire |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Chris Kelly BBC Bristol | By Chris Kelly BBC Bristol |
| The fire at the pier destroyed the famous pavilion | The fire at the pier destroyed the famous pavilion |
| A year ago, life in the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare was turned on its head. | A year ago, life in the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare was turned on its head. |
| A huge fire, caused by an electrical fault, destroyed the pavilion of the town's historic Grade II-listed Grand Pier. | A huge fire, caused by an electrical fault, destroyed the pavilion of the town's historic Grade II-listed Grand Pier. |
| The smoke from the fire, the second in the pier's history, could be seen for miles. | The smoke from the fire, the second in the pier's history, could be seen for miles. |
| It was a day which will live long in the memory for most of the townsfolk - especially that of Kerry Michael, who owns the pier with his sister Michelle. | It was a day which will live long in the memory for most of the townsfolk - especially that of Kerry Michael, who owns the pier with his sister Michelle. |
| He was relaxing on holiday in Spain when he heard the news. | He was relaxing on holiday in Spain when he heard the news. |
| Mr Michael said: "I had a call from my sister Michelle absolutely distraught on the phone. Just saying 'it's on fire, it's on fire'." | Mr Michael said: "I had a call from my sister Michelle absolutely distraught on the phone. Just saying 'it's on fire, it's on fire'." |
| The drama was played out on live television news and Mr Michael was among those glued to the screen. | The drama was played out on live television news and Mr Michael was among those glued to the screen. |
| "I just sat there watching it in disbelief with Michelle still on the phone. She was very, very upset but I was trying to calm her because it didn't look that bad at first. | "I just sat there watching it in disbelief with Michelle still on the phone. She was very, very upset but I was trying to calm her because it didn't look that bad at first. |
| "It was very early on, there was a bit of smoke in one corner, there were no flames. The fire brigade were there, I could see it clearly on the TV. | "It was very early on, there was a bit of smoke in one corner, there were no flames. The fire brigade were there, I could see it clearly on the TV. |
| 'Total shock' | 'Total shock' |
| Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier owner Kerry Michael on public support | |
| "I just thought that they'll put it out in a minute and I can calm her down and everything will be fine." | "I just thought that they'll put it out in a minute and I can calm her down and everything will be fine." |
| But within minutes flames spread through the whole pavilion and thick, black smoke rose over the seaside town. | But within minutes flames spread through the whole pavilion and thick, black smoke rose over the seaside town. |
| Mr Michael watched in horror as the fire "got worse and worse" before he made the decision to rush back to the UK. | Mr Michael watched in horror as the fire "got worse and worse" before he made the decision to rush back to the UK. |
| "By the time I'd boarded the plane you could see it had all gone," he explained. "I sat on the plane in disbelief. In just total shock. | "By the time I'd boarded the plane you could see it had all gone," he explained. "I sat on the plane in disbelief. In just total shock. |
| "As we approached Bristol the pilot came on and he said: 'I've got some very sad news, the Grand Pier is on fire' and he said: 'We'll come in that way and if you look out the right-hand side you can see it'. | "As we approached Bristol the pilot came on and he said: 'I've got some very sad news, the Grand Pier is on fire' and he said: 'We'll come in that way and if you look out the right-hand side you can see it'. |
| "On the one hand I couldn't bring myself to look and on the other hand you couldn't help look. | "On the one hand I couldn't bring myself to look and on the other hand you couldn't help look. |
| "It was just devastating - to see it all was bad but to see it for the first time from above, and to see the whole horror of it - it was shocking. Just really, really shocking." | "It was just devastating - to see it all was bad but to see it for the first time from above, and to see the whole horror of it - it was shocking. Just really, really shocking." |
| WESTON'S GRAND PIER The pier first opened in 1904It has only changed hands three times in more than 100 yearsThe first pavilion was destroyed in a fire in 1930Another fire, in 2008, destroyed the second pavilionA new pavilion for the pier is due to open in 2010It will feature an 85m (279ft) high tower at the sea endThe pier is the 10th longest in the UKIt is a Grade II-listed structure | WESTON'S GRAND PIER The pier first opened in 1904It has only changed hands three times in more than 100 yearsThe first pavilion was destroyed in a fire in 1930Another fire, in 2008, destroyed the second pavilionA new pavilion for the pier is due to open in 2010It will feature an 85m (279ft) high tower at the sea endThe pier is the 10th longest in the UKIt is a Grade II-listed structure |
| Elfan Ap Rees, the deputy leader of North Somerset Council, who worked on the pier in his youth, echoed Mr Michael's shock at the events that unfolded that day. | Elfan Ap Rees, the deputy leader of North Somerset Council, who worked on the pier in his youth, echoed Mr Michael's shock at the events that unfolded that day. |
| "I think everybody shared that feeling when they saw the pavilion on fire," he said. | "I think everybody shared that feeling when they saw the pavilion on fire," he said. |
| Mr Ap Rees said the inferno, though, has ended up prompting a rise in visitors to Weston. | Mr Ap Rees said the inferno, though, has ended up prompting a rise in visitors to Weston. |
| For many weeks after the fire, residents and visitors to the town trudged up the pier to look at the wreck of the pavilion. | For many weeks after the fire, residents and visitors to the town trudged up the pier to look at the wreck of the pavilion. |
| "Strangely, I think it has had a positive impact because of the publicity for the fire and the town - not just nationally but internationally. | "Strangely, I think it has had a positive impact because of the publicity for the fire and the town - not just nationally but internationally. |
| "It's probably wrong to say: 'It's an ill wind....' but it definitely put Weston firmly on the map and led to initiatives such as the big wheel coming to Weston." | "It's probably wrong to say: 'It's an ill wind....' but it definitely put Weston firmly on the map and led to initiatives such as the big wheel coming to Weston." |
| After the fire, the owners quickly set about planning a replacement for the pier pavilion which is due to be completed in 2010. | After the fire, the owners quickly set about planning a replacement for the pier pavilion which is due to be completed in 2010. |
| "I'm sure when it reopens next year there will be another boost because people will want to come and visit it," Mr Ap Rees added. | "I'm sure when it reopens next year there will be another boost because people will want to come and visit it," Mr Ap Rees added. |
| Mr Michael added the pier, when promoted properly, was a "huge magnet for the whole of the town". | Mr Michael added the pier, when promoted properly, was a "huge magnet for the whole of the town". |
| But with the redevelopment going on in a climate of some of the worst economic conditions in recent years - is he worried? | But with the redevelopment going on in a climate of some of the worst economic conditions in recent years - is he worried? |
| "Although we'd rather we weren't in recession it certainly won't stop us. We've come to understand it as a cycle... you have to build a business model that survives these things." | "Although we'd rather we weren't in recession it certainly won't stop us. We've come to understand it as a cycle... you have to build a business model that survives these things." |