It’s three years since the Manchester Arena bombing and the city will never forget

Today, Friday May 22nd 2020, marks three years since the disastrous Manchester Arena bombing at an Ariana Grande concert. 

In 2017, the pop star had just finished playing to a crowd of adoring and particularly young fans, when a terrorist detonated a homemade explosive device in the waiting area of the arena. The bomb tragically took the lives of 22 innocent people. 

This year Manchester will be paying tribute and gathering in remembrance virtually, to commemorate the third anniversary a bit differently with an online service.

The Manchester Cathedral will be hosting a live broadcast on Facebook and those watching are encouraged to light a candle in remembrance to those who lost their lives.

The Cathedral bells will ring out at 10:31pm, the time the bomb was detonated, with it tolling 22 times – once for each victim. This will also be aired on BBC Radio Manchester.

The virtual ceremonies mark a poignant moment for our city. We stood solid in the immediate aftermath, covered the city in The 22 Bee Project, created the Tree of Hope Trail, stood silent in the Great Manchester Run, projected song lyrics on pavements, hosted the One Love concert as an act of solidarity, and showed the world that ‘This Is The Place’.  

Manchester remembers the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena attack: Georgina Callander, Saffie Rose Roussos, John Atkinson, Megan Hurley, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, Alison Howe, Lisa Lees, Angelika Klis, Marcin Klis, Martyn Hett, Kelly Brewster, Jane Tweddle, Nell Jones, Michelle Kiss, Sorrell Leczkowski, Liam Curry, Chloe Rutherford, Elaine McIver, Wendy Fawell, Eilidh MacLeod, Courtney Boyle and Philip Tron. 

The youngest of the victims was 8-year old Saffie Rose Roussos, whose mum and sister were also taken to hospital on the night of the attack. Her funeral was the last of the victims, and hundreds of mourners attended to celebrate the life of a ‘little girl with a beautiful smile’. 

Nell Jones, 14, has been remembered for her kindness. Shortly after the tragic event her fellow students designed a community space in her name. It was filled with pebbles, each painted with a heartfelt and touching tribute to Nell.

Martyn Hett, a PR manager and social media star, was also tragically killed in the attack. He was widely recognised for his quirky humour and infectious sense of joy. 

Kelly Brewster, 32, was tragically killed as she threw herself in front of the bomb to shield her sister, Claire Booth, and her daughter Hollie. They survived the injuries but Kelly lost her life in a selfless act of compassion. 

Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, from Leeds dreamt of being an architect to ‘build her mum a house’, but her dreams were robbed as she tragically lost her life in the incident. Her mother and grandmother survived the explosion and remember their ‘clever, talented, creative girl’. 

A Police Officer of 19 years, Elaine, 43, lost her life while waiting in the foyer with her partner, Paul. Paul left the explosion with serious injuries while Elaine tragically lost her life. She is remembered for her ‘kindness, love’ and ‘huge heart’. 

Many other parents and family were waiting to pick up their children after the concert, including Alison, Lisa, Angelika, Marcin, Jane, Michelle, Courtney and Philip. 

Ariana Grande released a message of solidarity to her fans and the victims of the attack this week on the approach to the anniversary saying: “I want to take a moment to acknowledge and send my love to everyone that is feeling the sadness and tremendous heaviness of the anniversary coming up this week. 

“Not a day goes by that doesn’t affect u and all us still. I will be thinking of u all week and weekend. My heart, my thoughts, prayers are with u always.” 

Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives or were otherwise affected on that tragic day – we will never forget.