Remembering the New Cross fire

This week, we’ve seen a flow of editorials and homages dedicated to revisiting the events of the New Cross house fire. Monday marked 40 years since January 18th 1981, the day that resulted in the lives of 13 young Black youths being lost.

Their names were Humphrey Brown (18) Peter Campbell (18) Steve Collins (17) Patrick Cummings (16) Gerry Francis (17) Andrew Gooding (14) Lloyd Richard Hall (20) Patricia Denise Johnston (15) Rosalind Henry (16) Glenton Powell (15) Paul Ruddock (22) Yvonne Ruddock (16) and Owen Thompson (16). The tragedy of that day was the cause of another life eventually being taken. Two years after the fire, Anthony Berbeck, a survivor of that night and still only aged 20, would take his own life owing to what is believed to have been trauma from the events of 1981.

It remains one of the darkest tragedies in which Black Britain has had to endure. Yvonne Ruddock and Angela Jackson had been celebrating their birthdays with friends at her family home at 439 New Cross Road when a devastating fire broke out in the early hours of the morning, leading to the deaths of the 13 people and injuring upwards of 50 more.

Frequent commuters to the Operation Black Vote website will know of OBV's willingness to document the past as much as the present, but while many of these trips back through time are done to unearth and celebrate Black achievement on these isles, looking back through this history can also be a painful exercise.

The commemorations this week have been eye-opening and in the 40 years since details surrounding the New Cross fire have continued to emerge while the collective memories of that night continue to be passed down. The BBC's audio documentary 'Lights Out' features survivors of the night as they chronicle the horrifying events of and subsequent reaction to that night.

The 'explosion of criticism for black noise' was referenced by one commentator, suggesting that from his perspective, reaction to the fire was born of angst rather than empathy. Likewise, Huffington Post's interview with survivors, relatives and activists who refused to be dismissed gives some perspective on an experience which very few could ever truly understand.

Wayne Haynes, a survivor of that night was one of the most badly injured. Haynes required 140 skin grafts, has received no compensation and said that as of last year he was struggling to get back his disability card which was taken away from him.

Aside from pain, one of the points consistently raised from those most affected by the fire is the lack of closure. Given the interviews and thoughts which have been shared this week, it remains as true now as it did then. What appears overwhelmingly clear is that this is a reflection of both the scale of the loss and the difficulties of finding closure without accountability.

The Black community in Lewisham mobilised and formed the New Cross Massacre Action Group. The group quickly moved to create a Fact-Finding Commission that would compile their own evidence through interviews with survivors and with the bereaved. They would also help organize the Black people’s day of action march which took place six weeks after the fire. Black people arrived from Birmingham, Manchester, Scotland and across the UK channelilng the pain of the 13 lost lives.

The eight-mile march from Fordham Park, South London to Hyde Park, Central London featured 20,000 individuals demanding answers and making their stance against the hostile environment of racial injustice known. 

“I don’t know if we’ll ever see a day like that again. One people one voice with one purpose basically just to get our message across, and I think it came the stage where people just felt like enough is enough"

June Thompson, New Cross Massacre Action Committee Member

An initial eye-witness account pointed toward a white Austin Princess which was seen driving away at the time of the fire. The investigation developed and the original inquest into the fire was held in the April of that year – it returned an open verdict. Four theories were advanced by the police:

• 1) A firebomb attack from outside the building
• 2) An opportunist arson attack from outside the building
• 3) A deliberate fire from inside the building
• 4) An accidental fire from inside the building.

Despite the environment of persistent racism faced by the Black community in South East London, the police eventually ruled out racist motivations, and the notion that the fire started as a result of a petrol bomb was also discarded by the police - but there was still discontent. Accounts suggest that Coroner Dr. Arthur Gordon Davies, ‘refused to take any notes of evidence during the hearing, preferring to read from police statements.’ Likewise, the theory that the fire had begun after a fight between boys at the party was an additional source of anger.

Dr Davies is said to have spent a third of his summing up discussing the theory, and though statements supporting this idea were retracted in court, campaigners believe that pursuit of this theory led to valuable time and credibility being lost. With this, the sense that the Metropolitan Police had failed to fully investigate the evidence surrounding the house fire only grew as indifference to the realities of Black suffering had extended from the massacre to the investigation.

To compound the sense of frustration was the revelation that youths had been pressured into statements.

"They refused to listen to me when I told them that there wasn't a fight ... they had their version of events and I felt I had to go along with them. In the end I caved and told them what I thought they wanted."

Robert McKenzie, survivor of the New Cross fire

The initial inquest did not end the search for accountability, but it is clear that instances such as these should have formed no part of any investigation.

The police would later use forensic evidence to state that the fire began inside the house. This view has also been expressed by Wayne Hayes, survivor of the fire. In the wake of the murder of Stephen Lawrence and the Macpherson report, the racial and violent crimes taskforce was set up to handle such cases and ran the re-investigation. The second inquest in 2004 once more recorded an open verdict.

"I have concluded on the totality of the evidence that while I think it probable, that is to say more likely than not, that this fire was begun by deliberate application of a flame to the armchair near to the television...I cannot be sure of this. It must follow I am unable to return a verdict of unlawful killing."

Coroner Gerald Butler

10 years ago, Alex Pascall OBE spoke about keeping the lasting effect of the fire in memory. He pointed out that with nearly three decades having passed, there may well have been two generations that were unaware of the events of the night - this holds even more weight a decade later. Last year was important in forcing these events back into the national consciousness once more, and it’s where it must remain.

Holding tragedy so close to the heart may seem a thankless task, but it is necessary for remembering those that have passed. As we continue to send prayers and healing to the families of those most affected, it is a task worthy of its cause, now and always.

Mayowa Ayodele

..................................................................................................................... 

A call to action...

For 24 years OBV have fought to ensure black and minority ethnic participation and representation in civic society. Efforts in continuing to do so are greatly supported by your help. That way we can continue this fight for greater race equality. What would give us a tremendous boost is if today, you made that small donation yourselves, but even more. importantly if you encouraged others to do likewise.