Vigils, rallies and walks held as Yorkshire pays respects

SILENCE FELL across businesses, council buildings and communities in Yorkshire yesterday as people throughout the region paused to remember those affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Many paid their respects by observing a minute’s silence at noon, while others turned out for vigils, rallies and walks being held to mark the first anniversary of the tower block fire, which claimed at least 72 lives.

Lord Mayor of Bradford Coun Zafar Ali and the Dean of Bradford Jerry Lepine were among those who gathered for a service held in Centenary Square shortly before noon.

The city’s branch of campaign group Justice 4 Grenfell also led a solidarity walk before the opening of Keepsake, an exhibition at Bradford Cathedral which features new artworks created in response to the disaster.

Beforehand, organisers said: “People of Bradford will join an increasing number who stand together to demand justice and to remind those responsible that we will not forget.”

Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan said on Twitter that a “hugely poignant” silence had been observed at the city’s main railway station.

Members of Little London Tenants and Residents Association, campaign group Hands Off Our Homes and Leeds Independent Socialists also organised a silent vigil and rally in Victoria Gardens to give people in the city an opportunity to show their solidarity with all those affected.

A similar vigil took place in St Helen’s Square in York, while Sheffield Town Hall was the venue for an event with city councillors and Fire Brigades Union reps among the guest speakers. Others used to the day to reaffirm their commitment to learning lessons from the tragedy.

Coun Jim Steinke, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety, said: “Whatever lessons emerge from the inquiry will be taken on board and the council will do all that is necessary to ensure that our tenants can live in comfort and safety and above all that they can do so in complete peace of mind.”

Work to fit new fire-resistant cladding is due to begin at the end of the summer on the only one of 24 council tower blocks in the city to fail safety tests introduced in the wake of Grenfell.

The council had taken the decision to immediately remove the old cladding when the result for Hanover Tower was returned.