Pair honoured for response to fatal explosion

RESPONDERS to the Violet Close tragedy have been commended by Northumbria Police due to their actions after the fatal Benwell explosion.

- By OWEN YOUNGER

The awards have been given to Stuart Turnbull of Newcastle City Council, and Dave Fenwick of Thompsons of Prudhoe.

The shocking incident in Newcastle, in October last year, saw over 140 people evacuated after a devastating explosion ripped through the block of homes in the middle of the night. It claimed two lives, including that of innocent seven-year-old boy Archie York.

Stuart Turnbull was the council's lead officer with responsibility for the site in the aftermath, supporting affected residents and the emergency services.

He played an essential role in helping families retrieve personal items as well as keeping the site safe and secure.

Dave Fenwick skilfully operated heavy plant machinery to help the police meticulously search through the debris looking for key pieces of evidence, which ultimately led to a successful conviction. He also helped to clear the scene, demolishing the ruined block, and remove hundreds of tonnes of waste from the site.