The Worsley Hotel fire

IAN Pettit will never forget the day he learned of his brother’s death. It was at 9am December 13 1974, and Ian was sitting at his drawing board as an electrical draughtsman at an engineering firm in Kent.

The chief engineer of the firm popped his head into the office and said: “Ian, do you have a brother in the London Fire Brigade?”

“Yes.” Ian replied. “Well, he died last night.”

That was how Ian heard his brother, Hamish Pettit, had died in the Worsley Hotel fire, one of seven people who lost their lives in the tragedy 50 years ago this week.

On Friday Hamish’s bravery was commemorated by more than 100 firefighters, survivors, and family members at the former hotel site in Clifton Gardens, Maida Vale.

Hamish Pettit

The tragedy inspired Ian to quit engineering and join the LFB, working at Paddington fire station where his brother had served before him.

“We were as close as brothers could be,” said Ian. “We played football together, we socialised together, the same pub on the weekends, same friends. We were very, very close.”

Tottenham Hotspur was a massive part of the brothers’ relationship. Ian still remembers the League and FA Cup double team of 1960-61. “I remember Jimmy Greaves’ hat-trick on his debut against Blackpool the following year in 1961. He scored an overhead kick. We had never seen anything like him. We started going to White Hart Lane when we were nine years old, and we’d go to every home game. The glory days.”

Ian Pettit at the memorial with daughter Vicki and son James

Both Hamish and Ian started work as electrical apprentices at HM Dockyard in Chatham. Hamish joined in 1965, with Ian following a year later in 1966.

But Hamish was driven by a desire to help others. Ian remembers how, in 1970, Hamish and his wife Pat put aside money for three months to donate to the Biafran humanitar­ian appeal at the end of the Nigerian civil war.

Hamish even took a pay cut to join the brigade. He was unwavering, determined to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

On the night of the fire, then Paddington Station Officer Neil Wallington remembered “smoke filling the streets” even before his crew left the station to tackle the blaze.

Hamish and three other firefighters were sent into the building to fight the fire and save as many people as they could. As they entered a room on the second floor, the ceiling collapsed, trapping Hamish’s crew. Three were saved but Hamish died, leaving behind his son Stephen, who was just 18 months old.

“It was a tough year,” Ian recalls. “My father passed away in May of that year, and then Hamish in December. Hamish stepped up to look after our Mum after Dad died, and then it fell to me.”

The London Fire Brigade gather to remember those who died in the hotel fire in Maida Vale 50 years ago

Inspired by his brother’s heroism, Ian followed in his footsteps and joined the LFB in 1976.

Ian’s career spanned several stations across London, including New Cross, Lambeth, Becken­ham, Croydon, Norbury, Purley and Deptford.

Ian even served in Paddington fire station in 1980. “That felt special, being back there. But I never wanted any recognition,” he said.

Ian eventually retired in 2002 after a 25-year career in the force, and he now lives in Scotland with his wife Cecilia.

Hamish’s legacy lived on, not only through Ian but their younger brother Perce, who joined Kent fire brigade in 1975 and also had a long career.

Reflecting on Hamish’s memorial, Ian said: “Hamish wasn’t one for ceremonies, but I’m glad he’s remembered. He wasn’t in the brigade long enough for everyone to see his full potential.”

Thomas Philip Carr, a hotel porter who survived the fire thanks to Hamish and his crew’s bravery, was only 17 years old when flames engulfed the Worsley.

He said: “I’m incredibly grateful to those firefighters. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”

Paul Anstey, current Station Commander at Paddington station added: “Every firefighter who has served at Paddington knows about the Worsley Hotel fire and Fireman Hamish Pettit. His loss shows the ultimate sacri­fice firefighters face.”

Despite the tragedy, Hamish Pettit’s memory continues to inspire, not only those who knew him but also future generations of firefighters.