Town rallies around popular firefighter

GOOD SORT: Martin Grice, a "nice, quiet, hardworking guy", has been overwhelmed by the generosity shown by his community.

Generosity has emerged from tragedy in Wairarapa, as residents rally around the man who played an unwitting part in last week's fatal car crash.

Long-time Featherston dwellers Jan Chaplin and Nick Burt have started a Givealittle page for baker and volunteer firefighter Martin Grice, whose car was stolen from his partner's home in Featherston on January 30.

The page, intended to raise funds to replace the Honda Civic, garnered more than $3000 in less than a week.

Mr Grice's car was written off when the 14-year-old driver crashed into a pole in Masterton's Queen St, following a brief chase by police.

Two of the passengers, aged 15, died from their injuries, while the driver is facing several dangerous driving charges.

The incident has spurned much outrage and divided opinion within the community, but many in Featherston and beyond have channelled their frustration into support for Mr Grice, with some donating as much as $200.

Mrs Chaplin, who set up the page last Tuesday, said it had raised $3208 from 73 donors, some from as far as Australia and the UK, as of Monday.

"The response has been amazing, just incredible," Mrs Chaplin said.

"We were all pretty upset by what happened, but this just gives you the warm fuzzies.

"Everyone who's been donating and writing messages for Martin has all been positive. There's been hardly any unpleasantness."

Mrs Chaplin said the idea for the Givealittle page came from fellow fire fighter Mr Burt, whose mother is her close friend.

Without his own vehicle, Mr Burt said, Mr Grice will be unable to travel to fire and crash scenes to assist his colleagues.

This puts further pressure on the Featherston brigade, which is already one man short.

"When the siren in Featherston goes off, these guys just leave their jobs and go," Mrs Chaplin said.

Mr Grice had also become well-known in Featherston as the owner of The Village Baker, which Mrs Chaplin said has been popular with locals.

"He's up early every morning, baking his own bread, but he always stays open a little longer for the people coming off the train.

"He's just a nice, quiet, hardworking guy."

She said had spoken with Mr Grice since the accident, and he had been "bearing up quite well."

"Martin was angry at first -- no-one expects their car to be stolen and written off.

"But now I think he just wants to get on with things, and focus on his business," she said. "He's doesn't want to dwell on it."

Mr Grice had been overwhelmed by the number of donations and encouraging messages thanking him for his contribution to the community -- for both his saving properties and lives and his "culinary delights", Mrs Chaplin said.

"He's gobsmacked. He said he didn't think people thought that much of him," Mrs Chaplin said.

She and Mr Burt planned to keep the page open until the end of February, with the goal of raising $5000 for a new car for Mr Grice.

If you wish to donate towards Martin Grice's Givealittle page, go to

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4martin