Others carried loudspeakers and banners bearing the names and faces of thevictims. 1981: Nine die in New Cross house fire. [6] They were: A survivor of the fire, Anthony Berbeck, apparently died by suicide on 9 July 1983 by jumping from the balcony of a block of council flats in south London. Mr Haynes, who worked closely with the Metropolitan Police during a second inquest into the disaster in 2004, said he remains satisfied with officers enquiries and believes that people within Lewishams own Black community know the truth behind how the fire started. They felt as if no one cared about their loss. Wayne Haynes, 58 - who suffered life-changing injuries in the tragedy including 140 skin grafts from first degree burns -spoke of his upset and disappointment about untrue theories over the horrific blaze. A source close to the inquiry said: 'Smithyman said he had a laugh with the arsonist while they were lying on a flat roof opposite the fire on the night. We are old people and we want to know the truth before we die.". However, he maintains that the initial police response in 1981 was woefully inadequate and the Conservative government failed to support those affected by the fire - and are still failing in this regard. Facebook gives people the power. (For some context, this was the time in history when the Vikings were still a major European powerhouse on the . I remember feeling it was going to be a momentous day.. Over the years, a number of reviews and follow-up enquiries have been conducted. Covering: Cooke Township, Newville Borough, North Newton Township, Penn Township, South Newton Township, West Pennsboro Township, Lower Mifflin Township, Upper Mifflin Township, Upper Frankford Township Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm We needed to give it the platform itdeserved.. Contradictory claims and reports of a supposed fight in the living room complicatedmatters. [32], Rex Obano's radio play Lover's Rock (BBC Radio 3, broadcast in November 2012) is a fictional account of the events leading up to the New Cross Fire. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? people of colour disproportionately impacted by coronavirus. Emotionally, its no good for us, as survivors, in particular. [13], The Action Committee organised a "Black People's Day of Action" on 2 March, when 20,000 people marched over a period of eight hours from Fordham Park to Hyde Park carrying placards that bore statements including: "Thirteen Dead, Nothing Said", "No Police Cover-Up" and "Blood Aga Run If Justice Na Come". Lindsay Birbeck (Image: Lancashire Police). (London and Sydney: Pluto Press, 1984); Darcus Howe, New Cross: the blaze we cannot forget. The Guardian, 17 Jan 2011. ", George Francis, Gerry's father and chair of the New Cross Parents' Committee, told BBC London: "Some people have gone mental through this fire. Your email address will not be published. DDPC 3/3 fire insurance assessments . | National newspapers largely ignored the New Cross fire and the Government remained silent. The final day of 47-year-old Lindsay's life, August 12, 2019, had begun with a shopping trip with her daughter Sarah, to buy a new school uniform. The exact cause of the fire has never been determined and the original inquest returned an open verdict, much to the dismay of the families of the victims. Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. [8] The inquest into the deaths of the 13 teenagers, began on 21 April 1981. The disaster claimed a 14th victim two years later when 20-year-old Anthony Berbeck took his own life in 1983 because of what an inquest judge called "trauma brought on by the fire". Anthony Cross. "They [the victims' families] felt they were black people treated as second-class citizens. The New Cross fire in South London in 1981 prompted a campaign for political action over allegations of a totally inadequate response from police and government. Berbeck actually escaped the fire, but became mentally disturbed and died after falling from a balcony, a possible suicide. Paul died a hero.. Peter Fryer, Staying Power: History of Black People in Britain. Theres so much more to this story. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. I will always remember him as I saw him the night of the party. When news of the tragedy spread in 1981 there was first disbelief and then outrage at what many in the black community felt was indifference shown by those in authority to their plight. For some it was seen as a chance to lay to rest the ghosts of 439 New Cross Road. (a) the closure of 10 London fire stations (reducing the number from 112 to 102); (b) the decommissioning of 14 fire appliances (in other words, reducing the number of fire engines from 169 to 155); (c) the reduction by 552 in the number of fire-fighters in London (a reduction of approximately 10% of the total fire- After police failed to find the culprit, the local community adopted the slogan '13 dead, nothing said'. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the infamous New Cross fire in Lewisham, south London where 13 Black youth died at a birthday party in what many believed was an arson attack motivated by racism. "[15]; an apparent reference to a controversial speech by Dame Jill Knight, a right-wing member of the ruling Conservative Party, which was widely interpreted as condoning or even encouraging "direct action" against noisy parties. I am a user experience and communications specialist with a passion for inclusive, accessible and user-focused design. Numbers swelled as the march neared the city; young people jumped over school gates and curious shoppers joined the demonstration. [26] Both were installed in 2012. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. These were not just national events that got brushed under the carpet, these were personal events for me. 2023 London Remembers, All Rights Reserved. They declared March 2, the Black Peoples Day of Action to demonstrate against the Mets mishandling of the teenagers deaths. The Witch Trials of JK Rowling makes sensible points. But the probe was shelved shortly afterwards, leaving some officers incensed by the failure to fully investigate the claim. Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4. Thats what counselling does for you; every Monday, I end up crying my eyes out because of things that Id blocked out for years., Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. But if it was a racist attack we wouldve known a long time ago. Frustrated by the polices inquests, on January 20, black Britons began organizing. Smithyman and his friend may well have come to the door and couldnt get in but someone wouldve at least remembered two white boys approaching the venue - but nobody recalls this. Photo Vron Ware, Courtesy of Autograph ABP, London, African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. In early April, an estimated 943 peoples were stopped and searched by the police under Sus laws, an addendum to the 1824 Vagrancy Act, and 188 black youths were arrested. The party had started the night before on January 17, 1981 but the fire started around 5.40am the following morning.. Tony Birbeck Director at Centurion Financial Planning Durham, England, United Kingdom 72 followers 71 connections Join to connect Centurion Financial Planning Activity https://lnkd.in/dSyWCQM It. It was a kind of sweep of passion and people saying "we have had enough".". Pedestrian, 49, who swore at 77-year-old cycling on the pavement who then veered into road and was struck by Are you allowing your bank to rip you off? Many black Britons believed that the National Front (NF), a fascist group, was responsible for those incidents as well as the New Cross Fire tragedy. Meanwhile Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher failed to send condolences despite sending a similar letter to the Taoiseach following the Stardust nightclub fire in Dublin three weeks later. "With all the parents suffering, we want an answer," said Mr Francis, aged 75. [14] One slogan read: "Dame Jill Knight Set The Fire Alight! Locals and the Friends of Birnbeck Pier have been petitioning for this part of Weston's heritage to be revived to its former glory. London, 06 May 04 Nevertheless, the popular press focused overwhelmingly on the minor disturbances that occurred on an otherwise overwhelmingly peaceful demonstration. ANTHONY, N.M. - NASA White Sands Test Facility Fire Department escorted the remains of Lt. Edward Vasquez from Albuquerque to his hometown of Anthony, New Mexico, on Friday, with aid from local . Police reopened the investigation into the fire in 1997 after lobbying by relatives and local MP Joan Ruddock. Mr Haynes is receiving counselling paid for by the BBC after he participated in the Uprising documentary in July by Steve McQueen and James Rogan, one year after he appeared in a 2020 documentary co-produced by Nadine White about the Black Peoples Day of Action march. The party had begun the night before and gone over into the next day. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in. Nearly 100 guests attended the joint birthday party for Yvonne Ruddock and Angela Jackson at Ruddocks three-storey home. Anthony Cross. George Ruddock says: Yvonnes brother Paul ran in and shouted, Fire! I saw soot and debris in his hair. Our assessments, publications and research spread knowledge, spark enquiry and aid understanding around the world. But what can I tell you, I am here, I am alive. "[18], On 14 January 2011, an event called "Remembering the New Cross Fire 30 Years On" was held at the Albany Theatre in Deptford. A 14th person, Anthony Berbeck, was described as having died "following trauma brought on by the fire". A week after the fire, 2,000 mourners gathered at the Moonshot Youth Centre in South London to pay their respects and to devout themselves to the struggle for justice.. Within months an inquest returned an open verdict. Ms Ruddock said she hoped people who had remained silent for years would finally reveal the truth about what happened, and has suggested there should be immunity for witnesses. Lives in Dalton, Georgia. "I hope the people inside the house will be called to give evidence.". 211 and 239. Username. This theory was corroborated by eyewitnesses who reported having seen a white man drive away from the house in a light-coloured Austin Princess moments after the fire had started. The story of the New Cross house fire of 1981, in which 13 young black British people died, and how its aftermath ignited an uprising by the black British community. After being told of what Smithyman had claimed, she told the MoS: 'The case has never been investigated properly. On Sunday, January 18, 1981, thirteen black youths attending a birthday party in Deptford, South London was killed in an alleged racially-motivated house fire. This article accompanies Aaron Andrews piece Truth, Justice, and Expertise in 1980s Britain: the Cultural Politics of the New Cross MassacreinHistory Workshop Journal issue 91, where it is available on free access. The meeting concluded with a march to the scene of the fire and a demonstration there, which blocked New Cross Road for several hours. . The police were widely seen to be scapegoating young Black Britons for the tragedy and the media barely reported the massacre. Yvonne loved soft, sweet girl music. In addition to the 13 who died in the fire, 27 were injured and a 14th took his own life two years later. But attempts to get a new inquest were twice rejected, until the High Court finally agreed to demands in 2002. If we could retire at a reasonable age of 60 then it would open the workforce to the new generation. Twenty-seven others were seriously injured. Commander Stephen Allen, from the Metropolitan Police, said: "Part of the way we police now comes out of the terrible riots and disorders that we saw in the 1980's, where we came to an understanding that we had to relate differently to the people we work for.". Exclusive: A lot of people refuse to do their research because they want to believe that a white person did it; how did the alleged white arsonist get past the doors and into the party? Wayne Haynes told The Independent. See Photos. One eyewitness reportedly saw a man throw a missile at the house. He was one of more than 100 youngsters who had gathered at 439 New Cross Road to celebrate 16-year-old Yvonne Ruddock's birthday. A series of public memorials have been installed naming the fourteen young men, women, and children who lost their lives as a result of the firethese include plaques on 439 New Cross Road and Lewisham Town Hall, and a memorial in Fordham Park. By February 9, four more black teenagers had succumbed to their fire injuries. England. In 1956 he moved to Israel where he served in the air force and attended the National Sport Academy, where he studied fencing. This Government doesnt care about the people of this country, whether theyre Black or white; theyre quite happy to have in-fighting in this country among the racists and religions in this country because it helps them to keep control, Mr Haynes said. The parents of the fire victims delivered a petition to the Houses of Parliament but no action was taken. On the night of the fire, nine black youth died. By Andy Gardner and Jake Ryan For The Mail On Sunday, Published: 22:01 GMT, 30 October 2021 | Updated: 02:08 GMT, 31 October 2021, Michael Smithyman, who had been jailed for killing his pregnant girlfriend, was the subject of a police report submitted to the Home Office and was reinterviewed by an elite Scotland Yard unit in 1993. A total of 27 people were injured as they tried to jump from windows or down drainpipes of the two-storey house at 439 New Cross Road, London. The fire and the protests that followed were part of the Steve McQueen co-directed television documentary series Uprising shown on BBC One in July 2021. EXCLUSIVE: Distraught mother waited 27 hours after calling NHS 111 but still didn't get to speak to a doctor Aldi releases list of 30 sites where it wants to open stores - is one of them near you? Cross Fire: With Han Lu, Lei Wu, Shuailiang Liu, Francis Wong. As the clock ticked past midnight on 18 January 1981, a house party in New Cross, south-east London, was just getting started. Join Facebook to connect with Anthony Cross and others you may know. View the profiles of people named Anthony Birbeck. Born in Timioara, Romania. Documents and papers related to the New Cross Massacre Action Committee's campaign are held in the archives of the George Padmore Institute and can be accessed by the public. We expand the work of History Workshop Journal, and continue the democratising spirit of the History Workshop movement. Over the forty years, events have continued to be held to commemorate the tragedy and remember those who lost their lives. The Black People's Day of Action march took place on March 2, 1981 - six weeks after the New Cross fire that claimed the lives of 13 young Black people. Anthony Shepherd, . The Grenfell Tower fire In December 2017, just six months after the Grenfell Tower fire, Dame Judith Hackitt produced her interim report. Commander Graham Stockwell, head of south London CID . Racists like to boast about their accomplishments., The Black Peoples Day of Action demonstration (March 1981). 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