Today Marks The 40th Anniversary Of The New Cross 13 Fire

January 18th, 1981 is a day that will forever be remembered not only for the tragic loss of 13 young black lifes in a house fire, but as a seminal moment in UK race relations. Yvonne Ruddock and Angela Jackson held a joint birthday party which came to end after a fire engulfed the house in New Cross South London. There has beeen a prevailing feeling that the fire wasn’t simply an unfotunate accident but in fact a racially motivated attack. During the time, there was said to be a known National Front presence in the area which presumbably sparked the racialised speculation. The tragedy politicised the black community who were outraged by the minimal response from the police, public, and government. New Cross Massacre Action Committee (NCMAC) was set up, and organised the “Black People’s Day of Action” on 2 March 1981. 20,000 people marched through London, under the simple message of “13 Dead, Nothing Said”. The subesequent inquest didn’t bring any convicing resoultion with forensic science establishing the blaze was started from inside the house, either by accident or deliberately. Also 18 months after the fire survivor Anthony Berbeck committed suicide.

Victims of the New Cross Fire:

• Andrew Gooding (18.02.1962 – 18.01.1981)
• Owen Thompson (11.09.1964 – 18.01.1981)
• Patricia Johnson (16.05.1965 – 18.01.1981)
• Patrick Cummings (21.09.1964 – 18.01.1981)
• Steve Collins (2.05.1963 – 18.01.1981)
• Lloyd Hall (28.11.1960 – 18.01.1981)
• Humphrey Geoffrey Brown (4.07.1962 – 18.01.1981)
• Roseline Henry (23.09.1964 – 18.01.1981)
• Peter Campbell (23.02.1962 – 18.01.1981)
• Gerry Paul Francis (21.08.1963 – 18.01.1981)
• Glenton Powell (18.01.1966 – 25.01.1981)
• Paul Ruddock (19.11.1960 – 09.02.1981)
• Yvonne Ruddock (17.01.1965 – 24.01.1981)
• Anthony Berbeck (17.08.1962 – 09.07.1983)