County in tribute to city after horror
MANCHESTER GETS NOD AT YORKSHIRE AWARDS FOR TERROR RESPONSE
HISTORIC rivalries were set aside as Yorkshire paid tribute to the people of Manchester for their incredible response to the attack on the city.
Manchester council was presented with The Special Award by judges at the Yorkshire Awards, which recognises outstanding achievement in and around the county in the previous 12 months.
The atrocity on May 22 claimed the lives of 22 people, and injured more than 250. Among those who died were six from Yorkshire.
They were Wendy Fawell, 50, from Otley; Husband and wife Marcin and Angelica Klis, from York; Leeds teenager Sorrell Leczkowski, 14; Kelly Brewster, 32, of Sheffield; and 19-year-old Courtney Boyle, a student at Leeds Beckett University, who was originally from Gateshead. The award was accepted by Sir Richard Leese CBE, the leader of Manchester council who described it as a ‘touching reflection’ of the way the people of Yorkshire stood with them in solidarity. He said: “The Manchester Arena attack on May 22 was a terrible event which we will never forget. “We were overwhelmed by the messages of solidarity from around the world and this award is a touching reflection of the spirit in which our friends from across the Pennines stood together with us. As a city we were determined not to allow those who want to make us frightened and divided to succeed.
“We were equally determined to ensure that all those affected by the attacks – whether through bereavement, injury or trauma – know that they remain in our hearts.
“I’m proud of the way the city as a whole responded and how the council and its public sector partners helped to set the tone, demonstrate resilience and compassion and provide support for those affected.”
Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of the awards committee, said: “It is an award that we wanted to present to Manchester council in recognition of the excellent way in which the city responded to the Arena bombing. A bombing which resulted in the deaths of several Yorkshire people.”