50 years ago: January 27, 1961 A BABY'S CRY ROUSED FAMILY IN BLAZE
A FULHAM family of five, roused from their sleep in the early hours of the morning by their baby's cries, found part of their flat ablaze.
The parents carried their three children through an adjoining flat to safety.
The fire occurred at the first-floor flat of Mr and Mrs William Russ, of Tasso Road, Fulham.
Shortly after 3am, Mr and Mrs Russ were awakened by the cries of their youngest child Dawn, aged three.
They found their bedroom full of smoke.
Mr Russ dashed into the sitting room and found that flames were burning a hole in the floorboards and that furniture in the room was ablaze.
He went back into the bedroom and he and his wife, Violet, carried their three children, Dawn, Robert, seven, and Lindy, six, to the adjoining flat of a relative which has a connecting door.
"But for the fact that our baby woke up and cried, we might have been trapped, as the flames seemed to be spreading quickly," said Mr Russ.
"The smoke was so dense, the firemen had to crawl into the flat on their hands and knees to locate the source of the flames."
25 years ago: January 20, 1986 PLAN IS THWARTED
YOUNGSTERS on the huge Clem Attlee Estate have made a plea to Hammersmith and Fulham to think again and allow them to use an empty basement as a youth club.
Police, tenants' leaders and local councillors all agree that club premises are badly needed on the 850-home estate.
They say the basement of Hugh Gaitskill House would make an ideal club. But residents' representatives claim that after a delay of more than two months the town hall refused to let the youngsters use the four adjoining basement rooms.
Home beat officer Andrew Taylor said the estate was sadly lacking in sports and social facilities for the hundreds of youngsters who lived there.
Already, North End Road traders have pledged to pay for fire extinguishers, a fire door and other essentials.
Elaine Howitt, 16, said: "There is nothing for girls in this part of Fulham."
A town hall spokeswoman said the basement had neither toilets nor natural ventilation. The council has now offered to send a senior housing officer, a planning officer, and an ILEA representative to inspect the basement.
"But planning permission would be needed and that takes a long time," she pointed out.
