12:40pm Thursday 13th November 2008
By Robert Fisk
A SON has been paying tribute to his mother who died following a fire in her Slade Green home.
Crews from Erith and Bexley were called to the kitchen fire in Peareswood Road at around 2.15pm yesterday and found the body of 80-year-old Janet Wheeler in the property.
Her son Mark says his older sister Paula, 53, found their mum.
The 50-year-old said: “When she first spoke to me she didn’t know whether my mum was alive or dead.
“It was just a tragic accident.
“We assume she was killed by the fire.
“My mum was quite badly burned and the ambulance came and she had already passed on."
Mr Wheeler, who worked as a bank manager, paid tribute to his mother, who suffered from severe arthritis and did not often leave her home.
The father-of-three said: “She was a character and had a strong supportive family and lots of grandchildren and excellent neighbours.
"She was a very caring person and very family oriented.
“The family was shocked when they heard. It is a massive shock that she’s gone in this way.
“Fire is an awful way to die and we hope that she passed out in shock or whatever.”
Mr Wheeler says his mum came from a large family of six brothers and sisters and was originally from Scotland.
Before retiring 20 years ago she worked for British Insulated Callender’s Cables in Lower Belvedere and Rolex in Bexley.
She had lived in the bungalow for around 30 years.
The fire is under investigation.
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