On Friday 13 December 1974, two separate fires were started deliberately at the Worsley Hotel in Clifton Gardens, Maida Vale. The building was a series of interconnecting houses, four or five storeys tall, that housed employees working, or training, in other Central London hotels.
Several of the residents woke to the smell of smoke. Some went to investigate and, on discovering the fires, raised the alarm.
London Fire Brigade’s control room in Wembley received the first of several 999 calls at 3:32 am. Crews from Paddington Fire Station, along with neighbouring Manchester Square and Belsize fire stations were sent to fight the fire.
A chaotic scene greeted Paddington’s Station Officer, Neil Wallington, when he arrived. A serious fire was in progress and over 30 people needed rescuing. The firefighters undertook rescues from both the front and the rear of the building, although some parked cars prevented ladders from accessing the upper floors.
Reinforcements were requested to help fight the fire. First 15, then 20, and soon after 30 fire engines, alongside two turntable ladders were mobilised to the scene.
Two residents made dramatic escapes by jumping from high windows. One leapt into a nearby tree and the other sprang across a gap and onto a firefighter's ladder. As the fire intensified, the building’s structure began to fail, as the floors and roof were seriously weakened by the flames.
When the immediate rescues were completed, the operations focused on fighting the fire. Crews carried heavy hoses into position, from the street level and from ladders pitched to the upper windows.
Three firefighters and a Station Officer entered a second floor room to identify where the fire had started. The roof had already partially collapsed, and then suddenly a large water tank and debris from the floors above crashed down onto the crew.
A rescue operation led to three of the trapped firefighters being released from the rubble. Tragically, 26 year old Fireman Hamish Harry Pettit, from Paddington's Red Watch, was killed. Six residents located on the upper floors of the hotel also lost their lives.
In 1975, kitchen porter Edward Mansfield was found guilty of the manslaughter of all seven people, and of the three charges of arson.
Recognising the bravery and commitment shown that day, gallantry awards were presented. These included:
This remains largest number awarded for a single incident during peacetime in the United Kingdom.
Fireman Hamish Pettit continues to be remembered at Paddington Fire Station in this memorial.
This article was researched and written by LFB Museum volunteer David P.