A PENSIONER has vowed to rebuild his paralysed brother’s home after it was destroyed in a blaze.

Grandfather Lance Simon has upped sticks from Nottingham and moved to Kidlington to live in a caravan so his 76-year-old brother can once again live in his beloved home.

In March, Francis Simon and his wife Gloria 86, who had lived in their mid-terrace property in White Way for more than 30 years, lost everything when a fire broke out.

The elderly couple, who had both been suffering from poor health, believed they were insured but had lapsed on the payments and so had been without cover for a number of years.

Mr and Mrs Simon were staying with family in Norfolk at the time of the fire, and the house was occupied by Mr Simon’s daughter.

It is believed electrical sockets had been overloaded.

Now brother Lance, 68, is using his life savings to rebuild his ailing brother’s and sister-in-law’s home.

Since the retired electrical engineer moved down to Oxfordshire two weeks ago, he has cleared four skips worth of rubbish from the house, and has lost more than a stone in weight.

Mr Simon said: “Francis and Gloria have lost everything.

“Memories, clothes, pictures, everything. I feel so sad for them. I am doing this because there is no one else who will help.

“My brother and his wife are very unwell.

“Francis finds it hard to speak because he is semi-paralysed after a stroke, but I know he is happy I am here.

“He knows I won’t let him down.”

Katherine Khan, Mrs Simon’s daughter from a previous marriage, flew all the way from Australia as soon as she could gather the £1,200 fare for the flight in an attempt to help.

Ms Khan, who is now caring for her parents in Norfolk, said: “I have managed to salvage some small souvenirs from the house for my mother. One is a letter from her father that he wrote to her while she was in boarding school as a girl.

“It’s in pieces but I have managed to find it for her.

“Anything that anybody can do to help would be most gratefully received indeed.”

With just his two dogs for company, Mr Simon has pitched up at a nearby campsite so he can keep an eye on the house and work through the day and night to repair it.

He said: “I am quite excited at the prospect of doing it.

“I am 68 though and I would appreciate any help people can give me.

“I would love for anyone out there, who has got anything they can give, time, money, anything, to please, please help.”

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk l Mr Simon said any help from any willing tradesman would be gratefully accepted and is hopeful builders, carpenters, electricians and plumbers will get in touch. Contact reporter Amanda Williams for more information on 01865 425426.