Blaze: Inquest adjourned until May (From Gazette Series)

Blaze: Inquest adjourned until May

A POST MORTEM has revealed that popular Dursley personality George Fry died from smoke inhalation.

The 74-year-old was killed after a fire destroyed his home, in Water Street, in the early hours of Wednesday, January 4. Mr Fry's black Labrador Jack also died in the blaze which took several hours and numerous fire crews to extinguish.

An inquest has been opened by Gloucester coroner Alan Crickmore but has been adjourned until May 10.

Mr Fry was identified by his son Brian, from Thornbury and it was a post mortem that revealed Mr Fry had died from smoke inhalation. Mr Fry was still alive when fire fighters pulled him from his home early on the Wednesday morning but he died soon afterwards.

The father of six had been president of the Dursley branch of the Royal British Legion and last week chairman Andrew Cooper paid tribute to his former colleague.

He said: "When they made George they broke the mould. He was well known and well respected."

Members of the Dursley community were left deeply saddened by last week's events but none more so than close friend Grantley Mould.

Mr Mould, 49, also a member of the Dursley branch of the RBL had been life-long friends with Mr Fry.

Clearly shaken by the death of his friend, Mr Mould struggled as he too paid tribute.

He said: "I had known him all my life. He was a well-respected man. He is definitely going to be missed in the community."

As well as being president of the Dursley branch of the Royal British Legion, Mr Fry also owned a smallholding at the top of Nunnery Lane where he kept sheep. Mr Fry had also once worked in a cycle shop in Dursley and had worked with Gloucestershire County Council providing home-to-school transport.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue service has not yet identified the cause of the blaze, although it is believed the fire started in the living room. A spokesman for the service said investigations were ongoing.