Son pays tribute to ‘amazing’ father who died after fire breaks out in Cotswolds town

A man has paid tribute to his “amazing” father who was killed in a largefire that broke out in a Cotswolds town.

Gardener and landscaper Francis Owens, 74, died in a blaze on Monday, as the fields behind Berrington Road in Chipping Campden caught fire.

Emergency services received reports of the fire at 5.38pm and deployed 13 fire engines to tackle the fire, but Francis died at the scene.

Patrick Owens paid tribute to his father on social media, saying he was “very much loved” by their family and described him as “the Renaissance man of Chipping Campden”.

Speaking to The Independent, Mr Owens said: “He was my mum Mandy’s best friend, and he devoted his whole life to her. He doted on her.

“He was an amazing father. He taught me so much, and he was such a good husband to my mum. They’d been married 50 years.”

Mr Owens has set up a tribute to Francis, whose landscaping company was called ‘A Luddite’ because he worked without machines, by setting up a shrine with his walking cane and a shovel.

About his father, who he said would “help anybody”, Mr Owens added: “Back in 1976, the Evesham Journal did a piece on him as the UK’s smallest lorry driver (standing at 4ft 10in).

“He had to have blocks nailed to the pedals so he could drive them. He didn’t have creature comforts like we do now.

“I’m also a lorry driver because it got into my veins. I wanted to make him proud.”

Nathaniel Hooton, the deputy chief fire officer at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said crews “worked extremely hard” to bring the fire under control.

“As a service we extend our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and to the wider community. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time,” he added.

“This was a multi-agency response. We worked extremely hard with colleagues from neighbouring fire services to bring the fire under control.

“We would like to thank our colleagues from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service for their support and assistance.”

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

A spokesperson from Gloucestershire Constabulary added: “Following a fire in Chipping Campden, a man in his 70s from the local area was sadly confirmed dead at the scene.

“His family and the coroner have been informed and our thoughts remain with all those who knew him at this time.

“Police do not suspect any third-party involvement in the death.”