Hilary Clarke emerged from a similar dark place, but her rise into consciousness was laboured. Her legs were crushed beneath a large piece of timber and, mercifully, her spinal cord had severed its connection with the excruciating pain in her lower body. Hilary extended her one free arm and marvelled at how the thick layer of dust gave it the appearance of marble. She retched as she attempted to call for help. It was no good. There was no one to hear her cries, and nothing left to do except reflect on the life she had lived. She hoped people would think fondly of her.

Outside, the little white rabbit had lost her whiskers, but gained a foil blanket as she stood with her mum and the swelling crowd that had spilled out of the theatre, along the high street, and into Victoria Park. Despite the cold, Evie held her body with poise, her placement perfectly centred. Mrs Clarke would be proud.

Eleven Months Later

The Night Sedgefield Will Never Forget

By Leanne Pitman, Cheshire Courier

If I had been asked to describe Sedgefield when I moved to the town several years ago, I might have waxed lyrical about its Roman heritage and historic cotton mills, the beauty of the surrounding Cheshire countryside, and the tranquillity of the canals that had once been the town’s life blood. Without doubt, I would have extolled the virtues of its cosy pubs and trendy eateries, but I would never have mentioned the Empress Theatre. I gave no thought to the abandoned art deco building that lurked behind the modern façade of a typical English high street. I didn’t know it was there. The whole country knows where it is now.

The Empress Theatre was a hidden gem and might have stayed that way if a pair of beady eyes hadn’t noticed its glittering potential. It reopened its doors amongst much pomp and ceremony a year ago, and the restoration was heralded as a cultural turning point for the town. Sadly, the real turning point came four short weeks later, when Sedgefield suffered its greatest tragedy.

As we prepare for that painful anniversary, it’s time to look back and ask how we got to this point. Was it a freak accident, or was it an inevitable consequence of snobbery and greed? Do we blame the fire for taking the lives of our loved ones, or should we turn our attention to those who saw more value in bricks and mortar than the safety of our townspeople? Is it time to name names?