West Kirby Grammar School students rally round to save Christmas for Wirral family after house fire

Dec 21 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

Sisters Tess and Chloe Hudson with school friends from West Kirby Grammar School

WEST KIRBY students rallied round to save Christmas for a Wirral family whose home and possessions were destroyed in a fire.

Gary and Julie Hudson’s three-bedroom semi in Ashton Road, Meols, was severely damaged when the blaze swept through the property in the early hours of the morning.

Mr Hudson, teenage daughters Tess and Chloe and pet dog Lottie escaped unhurt, fleeing in their nightclothes after being woken up by the sound of a burglar alarm further down the street.

With help from the community, the Hudsons are now looking forward to the festive season again.

Mrs Hudson said: “The fire destroyed everything in the house. We literally were left with the clothes we had on.

“I was away on business that night so I had a handful of things. Gary and the girls were left with just their pyjamas.”

Both Tess and Chloe attend West Kirby Grammar School and when their school pals found out about the fire they set about trying to help.

Chloe, 14, was given a school uniform and a £320 clothing voucher after a fundraising appeal by her Year 10 classmates.

The upper sixth form did a similar appeal for Tess, raising £260.

Friends offered the family the temporary use of a flat and as news of the fire spread through their community, further gifts were offered.

Tess, 17, said: “The school has been absolutely brilliant. I’m taking my A levels next year and lost all of my school work and revision notes but my friends and teachers have helped me get all the information together again.