The mother of a 37-year-old woman, tragically killed when fire broke out at her home, has paid tribute to the emergency services and neighbours who were first on the scene when the alarm was raised.
Mother-of-four Maria Jane Sutton died in the fire at 43 Dewing Avenue, Manorbier, during the early hours of Tuesday, October 16.
Her two sons, Daniel, 13, and Dylan, 10, who were also in the house, were led to safety by neighbours, but sadly the rescuers were unable to reach Maria. Maria also leaves two daughters, Jodie, 19, and Jacqueline, 18, and a grandson of six months, Alex.
This week, Maria's mother, Mrs. Shirley Baker, of Knowling Mead, Tenby, praised the efforts of the police officers, firefighters and ambulance personnel who dealt with the tragedy which has shocked and stunned the community.
"All three emergency services did a fantastic job and I am very proud of the work they did in trying to save Maria," said Mrs. Baker.
"All showed great respect to Maria and our family and they treated Maria with a great deal of dignity. Their professionalism was second to none."
Mrs. Baker continued: "Our emergency services are the best in the world. They really were all fantastic that night and I cannot thank them enough for what they did. They could not have done more."
Mrs. Baker also extended special thanks to Maria's neighbour Kevin Roberts, who led Daniel and Dylan to safety and went back into the burning house twice to try to reach Maria.
"My thanks to him are boundless," she said. In addition, Mrs. Baker has been touched by the kindness and support of WPC 437 Katy Griffiths, of Tenby Police Station, and Simon Rossiter, of Messrs. W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., funeral directors, who carried out the funeral arrangements.
"They have both been rocks to me," she said. "They both do extremely difficult jobs, but their support and compassion to my family and I has been such a help at this difficult time."
Describing her as "an angel", Mrs. Baker said she was very proud of her daughter Maria. "She gave a great deal of love to people. She was always smiling and happy. Maria was a diamond and will be sadly missed.
"Maria gave me four wonderful grandchildren and we were both there at Singleton Hospital when our darling Alex was born. Maria was simply beautiful." Mrs. Baker continued: "I have never experienced anything like this before. You do not expect to bury your own child. Losing a child is indescribable, but we have been overwhelmed with cards, messages, letters and flowers from people, which has been so touching. I didn't realise how much people thought of Maria and cannot thank people enough for their kindness.
"As a family, our world has been torn apart, but the love and kindness we have experienced from friends, neighbours and the communities of Manorbier and Tenby (where Maria worked in Pipers chip shop), has been such a comfort. The tragedy has brought us closer together as a family, particularly with Maria's ex-husband Craig.
Maria's funeral took place on Friday when a large congregation packed St. James' Church, Manorbier, and afterwards Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth. The service was conducted by Rev. Victor Millgate, who had confirmed Maria and also christened her four children.
"The funeral was so moving for us all and I must make mention of my grandson Kyle (Baker) who had his arms around me the whole time we were at the crematorium," said Mrs. Baker.
Maria's ashes will be interred in the churchyard, while a bench is to be installed in the park at Dewing Avenue which Maria fought for. "Maria will always be with us," added Mrs. Baker.