The text message woke me at 5am: ‘Can you get into London ASAP. There’s been a tragedy of huge proportions. Everybody’s required to attend’.
The location was close to where I was born on Portobello Road. It felt like something I had to respond to. I got up, put on the news, saw what was happening. It looked like an inferno. It was difficult to comprehend.
The Red Cross service I was with was to support the fire brigade, to provide emotional and practical help for vulnerable people affected by fire.
I got my kit together and called my boss – I was a regional managing director for a broadcaster. I said ‘something serious is happening, I’ve been asked to go. I need to’….