Liz Fletcher admitted “it’s quite emotional” as she and husband Kelvin began clearing the remains of their Peak District home, more than a year after a devastating fire swept through the property.
The couple, who share four children, were on holiday when the fire broke out last year. In an ITV episode of Fletchers’ Family Farm airing on Sunday, 18 October, they started the long process of sorting through what could be salvaged from the wreckage.
Going through the fire-damaged remains
While holding up a charred wooden frame, Liz said: “Look how much it has just burnt straight through the wood, that’s crazy.” Kelvin narrated: “We may be living back at the farm, but we’re still months away from living in the farmhouse following the fire last year.”
As their children had grown over the past year, Liz found herself throwing out old nappy bags, baby carriers, and wellington boots that no longer fit. Kelvin added: “A year and a half since the fire, and we have to throw out everything that has been damaged by the smoke.”
Picking up one of their children’s baby jackets, bought when the couple were planning to move to LA before purchasing the farm, Kelvin commented: “Funny how things turn out, can’t throw that!”
Emotional moments and looking ahead
Going through more jackets, Liz reflected: “This is just all the stuff that when the fire brigade had to break in, stuff that was blasted by the door. It’s sad because you realise how little the twins were and how this stuff doesn’t fit them anymore.” She added: “It’s one of those things, you mentally have to prepare yourself for, it’s been so long and we’ve just not been able to do anything because surveys and checks have been done as part of the insurance process. And now we can finally start clearing it out and building it back together.”
Kelvin narrated: “Five years on from leaving Oldham, and so much has changed. This farm has given us a new life. And rebuilding the farm house is about building the heart of it back, along with a few old memories that we’re rediscovering.”
Liz said: “It’s quite emotional actually. It just shows how much time continues no matter what you’re going through, things keep going, you’ve just got to keep yourself.” She added: “The exciting part is, although this now feels really sombre and quite depressing, but, like my dad always says, you’ve got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette, and it feels like we’re at that stage at the moment.”
Fletchers’ Family Farm is available to watch on ITVX.
