The date was June 26, 2012. It was a day that started off like any other.
Little was I to know the devastating events that would take place later that morning.
I had just returned home from walking my dogs, when I heard a loud bang.
I actually felt the house shake!
My initial thoughts were that I had left my back door open, that the wind had caught it and banged it shut....and yet there was no breeze and my door was closed.
I checked if either of the dogs had knocked something over, they hadn't.
It remained a mystery until a couple of hours later, when to my horror, I saw the News on the television.
There had been a huge Gas explosion on Buckley Street, in Shaw, which is over a mile away from my house.
The pictures on the News were horrific, unbelievable.
This kind of thing just doesn't happen in Shaw!
It looked like a war zone.
Two houses, number nine and number 11, were completely destroyed.
Six others were demolished later because of the damage.
Many families lost, not only their homes, but all their belongings and were left quite literally with nothing more than the clothes they stood up in.
It wasn't just financial hardship they suffered it was emotional too.
In a matter of seconds everything they owned had been destroyed.
The shock and devastation felt must have been unbearable!
Residents spent days searching for lost pets, many were never found.
But, sadly, it didn't stop there, it was announced later that day that a baby had died!
A baby!
The baby's name was Jamie Heaton. A gorgeous little 2 year old boy. He had been watching television, whilst his Mum was outside hanging washing on the line, when the explosion happened. Her husband and their 2 older children were out of the house at the time.
I didn't know Jamie or his family and yet it felt as though I did.
The whole community grieved for this beautiful little boy that lost his life so tragically.
Our hearts ached for his family and friends.
I attended his funeral, as did many others.
It was, understandably, a very solemn occasion.
Even the police officers standing guard outside the church were moved to tears.
It's difficult for me to put into words my feelings on that day.
I have never experienced anything like it before and I pray to God that I never do again.
The atmosphere in the whole of Shaw reflected the mood and tormented feelings of the whole community.
I can't even begin to imagine the pain Jamie's family and friends were experiencing.
The whole community wept and mourned for a little boy whose life was needlessly cut short.
The tiny little white coffin, with bright coloured spots to represent Jamies favourite television character, Mr. Tumble, is an image that has never left my mind.
Jamie's parents, Kenny and Michelle wrote the following tribute....
"Our little man Jamie was a happy little mischievous boy and full of laughter, he loved watching Mr Tumble and Peppa Pig. He was in his element in the outdoors, he loved his freedom, going to the park and playing on the slide. He adored his family – his brother and sister Jack and Jodie. They loved their cuddles and play fighting. His personality was unique and amazing.
"Jamie was unique and amazing. We will miss everything about him. Even though we only had a short time with Jamie, the time we had was special and his memory will live on through Jack and Jodie and everyone close to him. Over the last few days we have been allowed some quality time with Jamie, who looked so peaceful and perfect. We take comfort in the fact that he passed away quickly without much suffering.
We are going to miss our little man."
There was a lot of speculation about how and what had caused the explosion.
Different stories were being posted on Facebook, rumours around the community were spreading, but they all seemed to point to a guy called Andrew Partington.
Following the explosion the community spirit in Shaw was overwhelming. People got together and donated clothes, toys and toiletries for those that had been evacuated from their homes.
More than 80 people affected by the blast gathered at Crompton House School on Rochdale Road, which became a drop-in sanctuary set up by some of the pupils.
And the community rallied round with Asda, Tesco, and Primark offering help with food, drink, nappies and toys. A taxi company took families to and from the school for free and residents with cars also pitched in to help.
Many fund raising events were set up.
A Distress Fund was set up by Oldham Council for donations for all the residents affected by the explosion.
On 19 Feb 2013 the Heaton's next door neighbour Andrew Partington admitted eight charges of destroying houses and received concurrent seven-year sentences for each.
Unemployed joiner Andrew Partington, 28, sawed through gas pipes then sent his girlfriend a text message warning "Gas pipe cut, already filled up, boom".
The following morning, Partington lit a cigarette, igniting the gas and causing a huge explosion. Partington was pulled from the wreckage of his house with 40 per cent burns and a broken back.
There was a silent sigh of relief throughout the community once he was sentenced.
Nothing will ever bring little Jamie back and things will never be the same for his family.
Nothing will change the devastation that all the residents experienced that day, but at least Justice had been done.
Little was I to know the devastating events that would take place later that morning.
I had just returned home from walking my dogs, when I heard a loud bang.
I actually felt the house shake!
My initial thoughts were that I had left my back door open, that the wind had caught it and banged it shut....and yet there was no breeze and my door was closed.
I checked if either of the dogs had knocked something over, they hadn't.
It remained a mystery until a couple of hours later, when to my horror, I saw the News on the television.
There had been a huge Gas explosion on Buckley Street, in Shaw, which is over a mile away from my house.
The pictures on the News were horrific, unbelievable.
This kind of thing just doesn't happen in Shaw!
It looked like a war zone.
Two houses, number nine and number 11, were completely destroyed.
Six others were demolished later because of the damage.
Many families lost, not only their homes, but all their belongings and were left quite literally with nothing more than the clothes they stood up in.
It wasn't just financial hardship they suffered it was emotional too.
In a matter of seconds everything they owned had been destroyed.
The shock and devastation felt must have been unbearable!
Residents spent days searching for lost pets, many were never found.
A baby!
The baby's name was Jamie Heaton. A gorgeous little 2 year old boy. He had been watching television, whilst his Mum was outside hanging washing on the line, when the explosion happened. Her husband and their 2 older children were out of the house at the time.
The whole community grieved for this beautiful little boy that lost his life so tragically.
Our hearts ached for his family and friends.
I attended his funeral, as did many others.
It was, understandably, a very solemn occasion.
Even the police officers standing guard outside the church were moved to tears.
It's difficult for me to put into words my feelings on that day.
I have never experienced anything like it before and I pray to God that I never do again.
The atmosphere in the whole of Shaw reflected the mood and tormented feelings of the whole community.
I can't even begin to imagine the pain Jamie's family and friends were experiencing.
The whole community wept and mourned for a little boy whose life was needlessly cut short.
The tiny little white coffin, with bright coloured spots to represent Jamies favourite television character, Mr. Tumble, is an image that has never left my mind.
Jamie's parents, Kenny and Michelle wrote the following tribute....
"Our little man Jamie was a happy little mischievous boy and full of laughter, he loved watching Mr Tumble and Peppa Pig. He was in his element in the outdoors, he loved his freedom, going to the park and playing on the slide. He adored his family – his brother and sister Jack and Jodie. They loved their cuddles and play fighting. His personality was unique and amazing.
"Jamie was unique and amazing. We will miss everything about him. Even though we only had a short time with Jamie, the time we had was special and his memory will live on through Jack and Jodie and everyone close to him. Over the last few days we have been allowed some quality time with Jamie, who looked so peaceful and perfect. We take comfort in the fact that he passed away quickly without much suffering.
We are going to miss our little man."
Different stories were being posted on Facebook, rumours around the community were spreading, but they all seemed to point to a guy called Andrew Partington.
Following the explosion the community spirit in Shaw was overwhelming. People got together and donated clothes, toys and toiletries for those that had been evacuated from their homes.
More than 80 people affected by the blast gathered at Crompton House School on Rochdale Road, which became a drop-in sanctuary set up by some of the pupils.
And the community rallied round with Asda, Tesco, and Primark offering help with food, drink, nappies and toys. A taxi company took families to and from the school for free and residents with cars also pitched in to help.
Many fund raising events were set up.
A Distress Fund was set up by Oldham Council for donations for all the residents affected by the explosion.
On 19 Feb 2013 the Heaton's next door neighbour Andrew Partington admitted eight charges of destroying houses and received concurrent seven-year sentences for each.
Unemployed joiner Andrew Partington, 28, sawed through gas pipes then sent his girlfriend a text message warning "Gas pipe cut, already filled up, boom".
The following morning, Partington lit a cigarette, igniting the gas and causing a huge explosion. Partington was pulled from the wreckage of his house with 40 per cent burns and a broken back.
There was a silent sigh of relief throughout the community once he was sentenced.
Nothing will ever bring little Jamie back and things will never be the same for his family.
Nothing will change the devastation that all the residents experienced that day, but at least Justice had been done.
Jamie's Special Something - http://www.jamiessomethingspecial.co.uk/
Jamie's Something Special Memorial Fund has been set up to honour Jamie Heaton. The memorial fund takes it's name from Jamies favourite TV show "Something Special". Our aim is to raise £50,000 to buy brand new play equipment in Bullcote Park, Heyside, where Jamie took his first steps. After we have raised the money needed for the new play equipment we will continue raising money for children with special needs like Jamie who was on the autistic spectrum.
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