Couple return to lightning damaged home

Jan 30 2009 By Adam Courtney

Eric and Joy Painter

A Shepperton couple who watched their home go up in flames following a lightning strike are finally back home six months after the blaze.

Eric and Joy Painter, were forced to leave their home in Kilmiston Avenue and stay in rented accommodation, after the inferno ripped a huge hole through the roof, destroyed the loft and caused extensive damage to a bedroom and upper floor.

Mr Painter, who is president of Shepperton Rotary Club, said: "It really was a horrendous experience seeing your house, something you have built up for 16 years, on fire. It seemed surreal and not really as if it was happening.

"But after two or three days, the reality hits you and we were really quite depressed for a time. But then we started to count our blessings because we realised things could have been a lot worse - no one was hurt and we had good insurance. Really, for the last six months we've been thinking how lucky we have been."

While the couple were staying in a rented house in Tanglyn Avenue, builders completely replaced the roof of their home and added new rafters and beams, as well as replacing all the plumbing and electrics.

Although grateful to be back, the couple, who are both retired, had to unload 72 boxes and get used to an almost completely redecorated home.

Mr Painter, a former electrical engineer, added: "The rental property was lovely but there's nothing quite like being back at home. The last few days have been quite stressful because the lease was due to run out and we weren't sure if the building would be completed on time but everything was okay in the end."

As for whether the fire has given them a permanent fear of lightning, Mr Painter said: "There hasn't been thunderstorm since, but I think we'll be fine. We looked into buying lightning conductors but they're just too expensive."