A British woman who gained recognition for her appearance on the Channel 4 television program A Place in the Sun is among those feared dead following devastating wildfires that ravaged a village in southern Spain. Annette Kilgore, aged 69, is missing and presumed to have perished in the intense blaze that swept through her adopted home of Bédar on Thursday, July 9. The ferocious fire, fueled by extreme heat, dry conditions, and strong winds, has tragically claimed multiple lives, with authorities working to identify victims whose remains are severely burned.
Wildfires Engulf Andalusian Village
The village of Bédar, located in the province of Almería within the autonomous community of Andalusia, was engulfed by wildfires on Thursday afternoon. The extreme weather conditions, characteristic of a severe summer heatwave that saw temperatures soar to 44C in parts of Spain, created a perfect storm for the rapid spread of the inferno. Homes were razed, and residents were forced to flee as the flames advanced. The scale of the destruction has left authorities facing the grim task of identifying the deceased, many of whom were found beyond immediate recognition.
A Life Interrupted
Annette Kilgore and her husband, Malcolm Timbrell, 70, had relocated to Bédar from Cornwall in 2023, shortly after their appearance on A Place in the Sun. The couple had sought a tranquil retirement lifestyle in the small Spanish village. However, their dream was shattered as the wildfires tore through their community. Malcolm Timbrell has spoken of the harrowing experience, revealing he lost contact with his wife and numerous friends and neighbours as the fire bore down on their homes.
Speaking to the BBC, Timbrell expressed his devastation: “We have had an amazing life together, and now it’s stopped. If we had done the sensible thing and gone the other way and let our cats die, we both would be alive. But when you’ve got animals, you don’t think like that.” He added, “We are just waiting now for DNA clarification. And after that, I will probably just fall apart.” The couple’s beloved cats, Charlie and Misty, were also a significant part of their lives in Spain.
Dreams of a Spanish Life
Annette Kilgore had expressed her enthusiasm for embracing the Spanish lifestyle upon her retirement from a long career in mental health. On the television program, she shared her excitement about new activities, stating, “We’ve started kayaking, which is great fun. I haven’t fallen in. I now know that I don’t panic when I fall in, so that’s a good thing.” The couple, who had never visited the Almería region before their property search, were drawn to its less commercialized and more intimate village settings.
Annette had described Bédar as “the perfect place” for a relaxed retirement. Malcolm had echoed this sentiment, viewing their move as an extension of their life’s adventures. Annette fondly recalled the prospect of enjoying a glass of wine in their own property, saying, “This is ours, we’ve done it.”
The couple had a budget of £200,000 for their Spanish home. They ultimately purchased a stone cottage for £200,000 after a negotiation from an initial asking price of £215,746 and a bid of £175,000. At the time of the purchase, Malcolm had declared his happiness, and Annette described their new home as a “beautiful stone cottage up on the top of a mountain,” something they had fallen in love with.
Other Victims Identified
Annette Kilgore is not the only British national feared lost in the Bédar wildfires. Expatriate couple Pete and Fran Gillam have been confirmed among the deceased. They disappeared on Thursday after Fran sent a final message to her daughter, Danielle Gillam-Kirton, stating they were evacuating. The message, sent around 7 pm, was the last communication received. Subsequent attempts to contact the couple were unsuccessful.
Danielle Gillam-Kirton confirmed the tragic news on social media, sharing her heartbreak: “We are heartbroken to share that we have received confirmation from the police that Mum and Dad did not survive the fire. Thank you for all your love, support and prayers over the past few days. They have meant more to us than we can ever express.”
In addition to the Gillams, other victims identified include a Spanish man and his British wife, a French woman, a Belgian man, and a 93-year-old British woman who succumbed to her injuries in hospital on Sunday, July 12.
Ongoing Investigations and Recovery Efforts
Authorities are continuing their efforts to identify all victims of the devastating wildfires. DNA analysis is being used to identify those who could not escape the inferno. The extreme heat and intensity of the fires have made identification a challenging and sensitive process. The community and families of those affected are awaiting further news and confirmation as recovery and investigation efforts proceed.
