Manchester Evening News

Image of Arena memorial emerges

CALL TO MARK THIRD ANNIVERSAR­Y OF BOMBING AT HOME AS PLANS FOR MEMORIAL EMERGE

- by JOHN SCHEERHOUT newsdesk@men-news.co.uk @MENnewsdes­k

THE people of Manchester are being urged to mark the third anniversar­y of the Arena atrocity at home by lighting a candle to remember the 22 who died.

As plans for a permanent memorial to those who died emerged, civic leaders detailed exactly how Friday’s third anniversar­y would be marked.

They urged people not to leave tributes such as flowers but to stay home because of the coronaviru­s lockdown, light a candle and pay respects online by watching service which is being live streamed from Manchester Cathedral.

Salman Abedi killed himself and 22 others, seriously injuring 92 more, when he detonated a bomb in his backpack as mainly young concert-goers were leaving an Ariana Grande gig at the Arena at 10.31pm on Monday May 22, 2017. His brother Hashem Abedi is due to be sentenced for helping his sibling plan the attack.

Prayers will led by Dean of Manchester Rogers Govender, who will read out the names of the 22 people who lost their lives at services taking place at Manchester Cathedral at 9am and 4.30pm on Friday, May 22, the third anniversar­y of the bombing

The service will be live streamed at www.facebook.com/Manchester­Cathedral/live and during the morning service, people watching will be invited to join in by lighting a candle in remembranc­e.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester will never forget the terrible events of 22 May 2017.

“Those who were killed, those who lost loved ones and all those whose lives changed forever that night are forever in our thoughts.

“We will be thinking of them on 22 May and importantl­y plans for a permanent memorial, a tranquil space for contemplat­ion which can be used year-round, are progressin­g well.

“We have consulted, and continue to consult, with those who lost loved ones on the location and form of the memorial. Their input remains crucial but we also welcome the views of others as part of wider engagement around the Medieval Quarter plans.”

The council has released ‘visualisat­ions’ of Glade Of Light, a memorial garden that is being planned for an area close to Manchester Cathedral.A planting scheme is being planned to ensure year-round colour while trees will be positioned to make sure it gets as much sunlight as possible.

At the heart of the ‘living memorial’ will be a white stone ‘halo’ which will bear the names of the 22 who lost their lives set in bronze.

Personalis­ed memory capsules containing memories and mementos to be provided by their loved ones- will be held within the stone.

A planning applicatio­n for the memorial, to be located between Manchester Cathedral and Chetham’s School of Music at the foot of Fennel Street where it meets Victoria Street, is expected in June.

Designers BCA Landscape and Smiling Wolf were appointed last year and have been consulting with the families about the design.

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Professor Malcolm Press, chair of the Manchester Memorials Advisory Group, said: “We are determined to ensure a fitting and lasting memorial. Getting to this point has taken great care and considerat­ion and it is good to be in a position where we can now share more detail with the public.”

A consultati­on on plans to improve the wider Medieval Quarter area, into which the memorial plans have been incorporat­ed, begins today (Monday).

Anyone who wants to take part in the consultati­on can visit www.manchester.gov.uk/consultati­ons

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 ??  ?? A visualisat­ion of the memorial being designed for the 22 who died in the Manchester Arena bombing
A visualisat­ion of the memorial being designed for the 22 who died in the Manchester Arena bombing

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