EXCLUSIVE: Special community vigil for pensioner who died in Harold Wood house fire.

On Friday 12 of November the community came together to pay their respects to Mrs Josephine Smith who tragically died in house fire on Queens Park Road.

Mrs Smith was believed to be sleeping when the fire started on Thursday 28th of October. A firework was recovered at the property by investigators and three teenagers have since been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Last Friday saw the Harold Wood community come together to pay their respects to a much loved lady who had lived all her life in the area.

Firefighters from Harold Wood White Watch and Hornchurch joined the memorial and laid flowers down outside the Queens Park property, and to pay their respects to Mrs Smith and her family.

Harold Wood community police officers led by Sergeant Richard Ruane were also present at the vigil to pay their their respects.

Many members of the community including Councillors Brian Eagling and Darren Wise were at the event just outside of Harold Wood library.

The special vigil was organised by Monica Puncheon a well known and respected member of the Harold Wood community who started a go fund me page to raise money to buy a wreath in honour of Mrs Smith and was overwhelmed with the response she received from her community.

Mrs Smith’s son attended the vigil and paid a very moving and emotional tribute to his mum that left the community in tears. He also praised the incredible work undertaken by firefighters to rescue his mum from the blaze.

Please see our video below with Mrs Smith’s son paying a very emotional tribute to his much loved mum.