TOP STORY: House blaze kills wife of 60 years

27th January 2005

Marty Sharpe

An 84-year-old great grandfather awoke this morning without his wife of 60 years.

George Lincoln's wife Phyllis, 79, died late yesterday afternoon in a fire that broke out in the Hastings house they had lived in for 24 years.

The Fire Service was alerted to the fire on Titoki Street, Mahora, by calls from residents at 5.45pm. Two fire appliances from Hastings were on the scene within three minutes and another from Napier arrived shortly afterward.

Chief Fire Officer Ray Brown said firefighters arrived to find a distressed Mr Lincoln standing outside the blazing house.

"The fire was well under way by then. Flames were visible from a wide part of town," Mr Brown said.

The house was extensively damaged.

Early indications were that the fire had started in the kitchen. It was too early to tell whether the house was fitted with smoke alarms.

Mr Lincoln was taken to hospital suffering burns and smoke inhalation.

The Fire Service would be carrying out an investigation of the scene today.

Part of this would involve speaking to neighbours and Mr Lincoln, who was expected to be discharged from hospital today.

Mr and Mrs Lincoln celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last March.

Both had attended Hastings Central School, although they did not meet until George was 24 and Phyllis 18, at a party in 1942.

George was a home-serviceman on leave when they met and the couple courted largely through the post. When in town on leave George took Phyllis to the one-and-sixpennies movies at the former Cosy and Regent cinemas in Hastings.

They married at St Matthew's Church on March 14, 1944.

The Lincolns had three sons, two daughters, 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, all of whom still live in Hawke's Bay.

The couple spent 35 years on Oak Road, living in a house built by Mr Lincoln's grandfather.

The Titoki Street property destroyed in last night's blaze had been home to the couple for 24 years.

The Lincoln's third son Ian, 57, a diabetes sufferer, said he would always remember his mother for the many times she took him to hospital as a child and young adult.

"I've had a life of diabetes for 47 years. I was taken to hospital more than 50 times by ambulance and mum was always there. She always came to be with me, even if I told her not to worry," Mr Lincoln said.

"She was a great mum. She loved family and loved talking to people," he said.

Aside from family and people Mrs Lincoln's great passions were growing flowers and vegetables, he said.

"She's in the best place now. She's in Heaven. That's the best place for everyone," Mr Lincoln said.

Mr Lincoln would be meeting his father with his sisters and brothers later today.