Beloved Judy Garland shoes saved from fire wreckage

Delighted - Owner Valerie Grant with her shoes outside her burnt out bungalow in Beverley Avenue, Canvey Delighted - Owner Valerie Grant with her shoes outside her burnt out bungalow in Beverley Avenue, Canvey

DEVASTATED owners of a bungalow destroyed in a ferocious fire have had a glimmer of hope, as a treasured pair of Judy Garland shoes survived the blaze.

Homeowners Tom and Valerie Grant were left inconsolable when a lifetime of belongings were destroyed in a gutting fire which left their home on the corner of Rose Road and Beverley Avenue, Canvey a charred shell.

Their heartbreak worsened when a one-of-a-kind pair of shoes worn by the Wizard-of-Oz star, valued at an incredible £3,000, was thought to have been ruined in the disaster.

However, after finally being let back into the wreckage since escaping the flames last Tuesday, the couple were overjoyed to discover the shoes were completely intact.

Tom, 64, said: “We were all devastated when the fire happened, we’ve been left with virtually nothing. But my wife was especially sad about the shoes because how many people can say they worked for Judy Garland?
 

“We’re absolutely thrilled to find they’ve survived.”

Comments(4)

Eric Whim says...
10:59am Thu 24 Jan 13

something to smile about.

perini says...
12:02pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Considering they were made homeless by a house fire I would have thought that a pair of shoes would be pretty low on a list of priorities! Still, it takes all sorts!

emcee says...
2:20pm Thu 24 Jan 13

perini wrote:
Considering they were made homeless by a house fire I would have thought that a pair of shoes would be pretty low on a list of priorities! Still, it takes all sorts!
It's not about priorities. Whether it be family photos of a pair of shoes, if anything treasured is salvaged it lifts the spirits. Any lift in spirits is better than none at all.

perini says...
2:48pm Thu 24 Jan 13

emcee wrote:
perini wrote: Considering they were made homeless by a house fire I would have thought that a pair of shoes would be pretty low on a list of priorities! Still, it takes all sorts!
It's not about priorities. Whether it be family photos of a pair of shoes, if anything treasured is salvaged it lifts the spirits. Any lift in spirits is better than none at all.
Fair point! Hadn't considered it in that context!

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