Elderly Wirral woman who died in a blaze is named

Nov 30 2011 by Helen Hunt, Wallasey News

Elderly Wirral woman who died in a blaze is named

AN inquest has opened into the death of an elderly woman who died in a blaze at her home.

Jean Marjorie Tate, who was in her 80s, was discovered by fire crews who were called out to her terraced property on Richmond Street in New Brighton last Wednesday afternoon (November 23).

The cause of the blaze is not thought to be suspicious and the matter has been referred to the Wirral coroner who has now opened and adjourned the case.

A fire investigation into the cause of the blaze is continuing but initial indications suggest that “smoking materials”, such as cigarettes or matches, may have been a factor.

Fire fighters were called out to the woman’s house just before 3.40pm on November 23.

Three fire appliances from Wallasey, Birkenhead and Bromborough attended.

The fire had broken out in the ground floor front room of property. It took crews minutes to put out the flames and the fire was out by 3.52pm.

Following the blaze, floral tributes were left outside Ms Tate’s home which is in a quiet residential street near the Floral Pavilion.

One simply said: “So sorry”. Another said: “Rest in Peace”.

Neighbours were left stunned by the tragedy and said that she came from a well-known family which ran the donkeys on New Brighton beach.

One neighbour, Margaret Kennedy, said she had been confined to the house for a long time.

She said: “She was a neighbour I always said good morning to.”

The woman was said to live with her son. She was also said to have a daughter who lives in Wallasey Village.

The property was still cordoned off and guarded by a police officer last Thursday.