New Cross Fire Foundation

On Thursday 31st of March 2022, a group of family member and survivors met with Andy Thomas (London Borough of Lewisham - LBL) and Vicki Amedume (Albany Empire).   They were responding on behalf of Liz Dart, Head of Culture for the Council, and Gavin Barlow, Chief Executive and Artistic Director at The Albany following a proposal sent from LBL regarding the use of the memorial site as part of the Borough of Culture Programme which had not reached New Cross Fire Families and survivors for full consultation.   

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The LBL proposal was to install Linton Kwesi's Johnson's poem 'New Cross Maassahkah' by way of a speaker under the bench located at the New Cross Fire memorial site in Fordham Park, scheduled for May 2022.  The meeting was arranged following letters being sent to Lewisham, including the Mayor, outlining concerns that the survivors had not been given a voice  for over 41 years, which has led to many experiencing trauma and isolation and that there was a general feeling that it is time to stop having things done 'at' us, but rather 'with' us.

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The meeting went well, and the group were happy that they were able to directly express their concerns about the proposed BoC New Cross Fire Memorial project, as well as discuss other issues, and were relieved that  the LBL Officers and Albany representative agreed that the proposed project is no longer going ahead. 

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Additional topics discussed included:

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• The need to expand e LBL's list of New Cross Fire Families/Survivors in order to maximise communication/consultation with the same and prevent exclusion 

• Scope to look at what funds may be available/ring-fenced to do an alternative project in the name of the New Cross Fire as part of the BoC

• The Opportunity to propose a larger project for the New Cross Fire Memorial Site currently situated in Fordham Park which we believe is not fit for purpose to memorialise the lives of our loved ones/friends 

 

Gary Collins (Chair of the newly formed NCFF) who was in attendance said "as a space for reflection and remembrance it is crucial that myself, and others affected like me, feel that there is a place where they can go and reflect therefore it is imperative that there is wider consultation and as the Chair of NCFF we will endeavor to make this happen."