Event    From 18/1/1981  To 18/1/1981

New Cross Fire

Categories: Tragedy

A fire at a teenagers' birthday party caused the death of 14 young people, 13 at the fire. The 14th victim was Anthony Berbeck, who escaped the fire, but became mentally disturbed and died after falling from a balcony on 9th July 1983, a possible suicide. Originally the fire was thought to be a racist attack as all the victims were black. Two inquests reached open verdicts.

We are grateful to I Rise, our source for the thumbnail photos of each of the 14 dead.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
New Cross Fire

Commemorated ati

New Cross Fire - Fordham Park

In memory of the young people who died as a result of the New Cross fire 18th...

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New Cross Fire - Hackney

These trees were planted in the memory of the 13 children who died in the New...

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New Cross Fire - site of fire

New Cross Fire, took place at this site on January 18, 1981, Claiming the liv...

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New Cross Fire - Town Hall

Unveiled by Sybil Phoenix, a community leader who had been called to the scen...

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Other Subjects

Kuo Hui-Ming

Kuo Hui-Ming

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Patricia Wright

Patricia Wright

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Person, Tragedy

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
William Goddard

William Goddard

Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Andrew Gooding

Andrew Gooding

Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has researched this young man: Andrew Gooding was born on 18 February 1966 and died, aged 14 years, on 18 January 1981 in a fire at party being held at 439 New Cross Ro...

Person, Tragedy

2 memorials

Previously viewed

Charles Hollis

Charles Hollis

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2 memorials
Lionel Logue

Lionel Logue

Speech therapist and actor. Born Lionel George Logue in College Town, Adelaide, South Australia. He started work as a speech therapist and actor. During the First World War, he treated soldiers re...

Person, Other, Theatre, Australia

1 memorial
Mrs J. Lynn

Mrs J. Lynn

President of the British Women's Temperance Association, Holloway Branch.

Person, Food & Drink, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
George Peabody

George Peabody

Philanthropist. Born Massachusetts, USA, descended from English immigrants to America. A merchant businessman who moved into banking, in partnership with J. S. Morgan and became extremely wealthy. ...

Person, Philanthropy, Property, Social Welfare, USA

4 memorials
Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

The fiftieth anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II.  The Golden Jubilee Weekend took place between 1 and 4 June 2002 in London.

Event, Royalty

10 memorials