Memorial service to be held for shopkeeper killed in Kirkby Lonsdale fire

A service to celebrate the life of the shop keeper who died in a major fire in south Cumbria will be held later.

Ben Taylor died in the blaze which tore through buildings on Main Street in Kirkby Lonsdale at around 5:45am on Sunday, 8 December.

A memorial for Mr Taylor, who lived on Market Street but was originally from Lancaster, will be held on Monday, 30 December, at 12:30pm at Beetham Hall Crematorium, near Milnthorpe.

The full service will also be live streamed to St Mary’s Church in Kirkby Lonsdale.

Emergency services were called to the town at 5:45am on Sunday, 8 December, to a blaze at apartments opposite the Red Dragon pub on Main Street.

Around 75 firefighters and 10 crews responded to the incident, plus aerial ladders from Carlisle and Barrow, with paramedics confirming Mr Taylor’s death at 6:30am in the morning.

Cockermouth Coroners' Court heard how Mr Taylor died amid a "significant fire" but the medical cause of his death remained "unascertained".

Kirsty Gomersal, acting senior coroner for Cumbria, said "given the circumstances" of his death, an inquest was required and she formally adjourned it until May 2025 so further inquiries could be made.

Tens of thousands of pounds have been raised to help individuals and families affected by the fire, after the formation of the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Fund.

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