A moving memorial
HUNDREDS ATTEND SERVICE IN HONOUR OF THOSE DIED IN GRENFELL TOWER FIRE
HUNDREDS of people attended a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to remember the 71 dead and all the people whose lives were destroyed by the Grenfell Tower fire.
In the early hours of June 14 2017, the residents of the 24-storey tower were forced to abandon all their worldly possessions and run for safety.
Tragically, 71 people did not make it out of the tower and lost their lives in the UK’s deadliest tower block fire to date.
The scale of the fire and the political repercussions have struck a chord with Londoners, many of whom gathered on Thursday December 14 at St Paul’s Cathedral to remember those who lost their lives.
Among those attending were Prince Charles, with his wife Camilla, Prince William and Prince Harry.
The service provided messages of support for the bereaved and offered strength and hope for the future, for those of all faiths and none.
A specially commissioned banner incorporating the ‘Grenfell Heart’ was brought into the service and displayed throughout, before being taken to a silent vigil which took place in North Kensington later in the day.
There was also music from the Ebony Steel Band, the Portobello Road Salvation Army Band, an Islamic girls’ choir from the Al Sadiq and Al Zahra schools and the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir.
A pre-recorded sound montage of anonymous, real voices from the Grenfell community, reflecting the range of different emotions felt, was played, while there was also a brief address from the Bishop of Kensington, the Right Reverend Dr Graham Tomlin.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also attended the service, which was broadcast live on the BBC, as did Labour’s Kensington & Chelsea Council leader Robert Atkinson, who said: “It was very dignified and very moving. It was entirely right.
“I hope it gave everyone the same comfort it gave me.”