1981 blaze in London killed 13 black youngsters and sparked protest at poor response from police and government
Yvonne Ruddock’s 16th birthday party was the first her mother had allowed her to host in the family home in New Cross, south-east London. But the joint celebration that started with much excitement ended in a devastating blaze that killed Yvonne, her brother and 11 others on 18 January 1981.
The victims were nearly all teenagers, and all black. Twenty-seven others were seriously injured. One of the survivors was so horrified by what he saw that he killed himself two years later.
