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‘Our lives have gone up in smoke’

by Sue Carr
26/ 9/2007

LICENSEES of the Old Gloveworks in Glossop have spoken of their devastation after fire destroyed their business and their home.

Russell and Sharon Dalton, who were fortunately away at the time of the blaze, were woken by a call from the fire service at 1.30am on Monday.

By the time they arrived at the pub at Riverside Mill on George Street, the building was engulfed in flames with all their possessions inside.

Russell, who has run the popular music venue for the last nine years, said: "Obviously we are completely horrified, shocked. I am sick to the bottom of my stomach.

"It's a complete write-off. The pub side is extremely smoke damaged and the rest of it, the kitchen, the office, our accommodation, is completely destroyed.

"We have lost all our personal possession, our clothes. We've now got to sort through the debris to see if there's anything we can salvage."

Around 30 firefighters spent six hours trying to extinguish the blazing building.

It is thought to have started in the neighbouring property, currently unoccupied but formerly fabric shop Indeco, but nothing has been confirmed and fire chiefs are now carrying out an official investigation.

Russell, who has a second property with wife Sharon, said it could take as long as six months to get the pub back up and running.
But he thanked his staff and customers who have flooded the couple with offers of help.

"All the staff loved it here and they've all said that they will wait and return to work for us," he added.

"We've spent nine years building the business up and we want to thank all our customers for their support in that time.
"We look forward to welcoming them back when we re-open."