Gas explosion in Maple Road, Penge 1959
Jan. 02, 1959 - 2-1-59 Mystery gas explosion wrecks house and can't smell wife is killed A housewife died in the ruins of her home last night because she was unable to smell escaping gas. Mrs. Gwendoline Smith, aged 32, left hospital three days ago after a sinus operation. She had lost her sense of smell. She was working in the kitchen of her cottage in Maple road, Penge, S.E. when the gas leak started, believed to be from the gas stove. There was an explosion and the house caved in. Mrs. Smith was buried under the rubble. Her 36-year-old husband Alfred, who was working nearby, heard the explosion and raced home. He made a desperate bid to rescue his wife, but a rescue team had to dig their way through before they found her body in the wreckage of the front room. Photo Shows: The wrecked house in Maple-road, Penge, after the explosion. Its side wall was ripped away
