Cathedral date for Saffie’s funeral
THE funeral of Tarleton schoolgirl Saffie Rose Roussos – the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena bombing – will be held next week at Manchester Cathedral.
It will be the last of the funerals of the 22 people killed in the atrocity.
Her family have invited people to gather at and around the cathedral on the day to celebrate the life of the eight-year-old – a little girl with a beautiful smile who loved dancing, gymnastics and music.
Saffie was one of the first to be publicly identified in the days after the attack on May 22.
She was at the Ariana Grande concert with her mum, Lisa Roussos, 48, and older sister, Ashlee B rom w i c h , who were both badly injured.
Lisa remains in hospital in Manchester and has undergone several operat tions.
Exact plans f for the funeral s service are still being finalised, but large c crowds are e expected to attend the cathedral to p pay their tribu utes.
The funeral will be held on Wednes- day, July 26, at 1.45pm. Further details are expected to be agreed and publicly released over the coming days.
Saffie’s dad, Andrew Roussos, arrived at the arena after the concert to find Ashlee being treated at the scene and Saffie and his wife missing.
Speaking earlier this month on what would have been her ninth birthday, he described Saffie as his “stunning young girl” and said she was “just everything you could wish for in a little girl”.
Saffie lived with her family in Lancashire and was a pupil at Tarleton Community Primary School.
The family runs The Plaice fish and chip shop in Leyland, where a massive display of floral bouquets, balloons and flowers was left outside.
In a statement released after her death, Saffie’s school said that she was loved by everyone.
Chris Upton, the headteacher, said in a statement: “Saffie was simply a beautiful little girl in every aspect of the word.
“She was loved by everyone and her warmth and kindness will be remembered fondly.
“Saffie was quiet and unassuming with a creative flair.
“The thought that anyone could go out to a concert and not come home is heartbreaking.” Fundraiser for arena
bomb victim: P18