Poem tattoo tribute to bomb victims
HUNDREDS of people have had bee tattoos in a show of solidarity with the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing – but one man has taken the idea several steps further.
John White has had a poem about Manchester, written by Ryan Williams, inked on to the back of his leg, a process that took around three hours at The Inkstitute tattoo parlour in Cheadle Hulme.
The 60-year-old, who is mainly based in Australia but is currently staying with his sister in Cheadle Hulme, said: “My brother in law, who lives in Turkey, sent me a copy of the poem. It was read out over the loudspeaker at a mosque there the day after the bombing.
“As soon as I read it, I knew I wanted it as a tattoo. I printed it off, went down to the tattoo parlour, and said ‘I know this will be tricky, but can you do it?.’”
Tattoo artist Sean Taylor agreed to do the tattoo.
Mike Bailey, owner of The Inkstitute, said: “We’re actually fully booked for the next month, but because of what had happened Sean agreed to stay late that night. It’s not something we would usually do, but these are special circumstances.”
After The Inkstitute posted pictures of John’s tattoo on Facebook they had a visit from poet Ryan, who gave them a signed copy of the poem, and John now plans to also have Ryan’s signature tattooed.
He said: “I have got a couple of other tattoos – I had the Manchester bee tattooed on my knees years ago. It didn’t hurt that much. I have got quite a high threshold for pain.
“It is such a neat job. People keep stopping me to talk about it. I was in the hospital visiting my mum and one of the nurses said ‘it’s you – I saw your tattoo on Facebook!.’
“I am really pleased with it and I am really proud to be wearing it. I grew up in Chorlton on Medlock so I am Manchester born and bred, and proud of it.”
For more information visit theinkstitute.co.uk.