Volunteers finish family home after father's death

About 30 volunteer construction workers came together to finish the Fletcher family's home in Norfolk

A bereaved mother-of-six has hailed the "amazing" kindness of more than 150 volunteers who finished her home following the death of her husband.

Shaun Fletcher took his own life on Christmas Eve aged 44, having hidden his mental health struggles.

The electrician had been working on a renovation of their home near Swaffham, Norfolk, including vital facilities for his disabled son – but Cambridgeshire charity Band of Builders stepped in to help.

Mr Fletcher's wife Sarah said: "Thank you isn't enough - but a massive thank you."

Sarah Fletcher had to carry her son Toby - who was born 13 weeks premature - up the stairs

The tragic circumstances meant a ground-floor room for the couple's 16-year-old son stood as an empty shell.

Toby requires round-the-clock palliative care due to quadriplegic cerebral palsy and dystonia, which meant Mrs Fletcher was having to carry him upstairs to bed each night.

But the job was completed in full in 12 days, with other renovations also completed around the house, fulfilling the initial plans for the home.

"This is amazing," said Mrs Fletcher. "It's better than I ever could have imagined, it's just a proper room for Toby, his own room and he deserves it.

"I don't have to carry him up the stairs, which is a massive positive."

Shaun and Sarah married in 2007, with Mrs Fletcher describing her husband as "quite a joker" and a "hard-working person".

She added: "If he wasn't working, he was trying to complete this extension for Toby.

"He thought a lot of Toby. He loved them all, he treated all of them the same.

"Toby would always have a smile for his dad."

The work on the house was completed in 12 days

Toby's new bedroom means his mum no longer has to carry him upstairs

With the project providing some distraction during a difficult time, Mrs Fletcher has praised Band of Builders for bringing volunteers together from around the UK.

"They were just so lovely. They were here because they wanted to be here."

Mrs Fletcher is sure her husband would have been "really pleased" with the finished project, particularly with the smart home system he had wanted.

She concluded: "It is amazing that the house is done but it is also sad that Shaun isn't here to see it."

'Good in this world'

Paul Page was one of more than 150 volunteers who worked on the project

Among the volunteers was Paul Page, who said he had never been involved in something so special in about 30 years in the construction industry.

Holding back tears, Mr Page said: "They needed the help, and I think everyone felt the same.

"It looks absolutely beautiful. They will have a much better life with the way the property is now.

"I know they haven't got a full family but they'll be much happier."

Brian Hicks worked on plastering for the Band of Builders project

Retired plasterer Brian Hicks got involved after his wife saw an advertisement on Facebook.

"I just thought, this is a great cause, and I can honestly say, the people that were here, I've never been in a working environment like it.

"Just the sheer kindness and commitment people had, money couldn't buy that type of thing. It just made you feel there is good in this world."

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