CHARITY fundraiser Sandra Blockley MBE, whose home of 60 years was gutted by a freak fire, is happy again and picking up the pieces of her life.

An electrical fault ignited the pensioner's home in Church Street, Thurcroft, last month and all her belongings went up in smoke.

Relatives, friends – and even strangers – have rushed to her aid though and she is now putting her life back together.

After the blaze in April, Sandra stayed initially at the nearby Consort Hotel before moving to an Airbnb in Wickersley.

placeholder image — Support: Sandra Blockley and daughters

A JustGiving page which set a target of £500 to help the 82-year-old clothe and feed herself has now raised more than £7,660.

On top of that local MP Jake Richards is working to replace her MBE which perished in the blaze, and her Pride in Britain award was re-presented to her on Thursday.

Sandra said it meant "so, so much" to get the Pride award back.

The widow's granddaughter Jessica Broadbent told the Advertiser that Sandra was "feeling brilliant and extremely happy" over the way people had rallied around her.

In her lifetime, she had raised more than £2m for charity… now people were recognising that by rewarding her.

"She has always lived in Thurcroft – people call her the Queen of Thurcroft – everybody knows and loves her there. She had to move but she is alright and is in an Airbnb until something permanent can be arranged" said Jessica, who lives in Dinnington.

"She is a very strong lady, but the two awards that were lost in the fire were all she kept saying about at the time.

"She said she'd lost the medals that she had worked so hard for and (represented) all she'd done for the village."

Sandra, who worked for decades at a charity shop in Green Arbour Road raising funds for cancer and dementia charities, had been out line-dancing when an electrical fault set fire to wood in a shed next to her home.

While she is comfortable for the time being in Wickersley, her family have to work out a long term solution to her housing.

"We will always be there to look after her," said Jessica.

In 2006, her grandmother was awarded an MBE in recognition of her voluntary work. She was named Fundraiser of the Year at the Pride of Britain awards in 2022.

Jake Richards, Rother Valley MP says: "It is imperative to me that she is able to get a replacement MBE medal and I am keen to see this issue as soon as possible.

"I am pleased that this has been picked up by the Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, who has provided guidance to me and the family, to ensure that this replacement happens."

If you want to contribute to Sandra's future, visit JustGiving and search for Jess Broadbent.