Today marks the fourth anniversary of the 52 men and women who where killed by terrorists in the London bombings.
Fifty-two stainless steel pillars, one for each of the victim of the 7/7 attacks, have been grouped in four clusters to mark the four locations of the attacks – Tavistock Square, Edgware Road, King’s Cross and Aldgate.
Survivors and relatives of the victims paid tribute at the monument of steel pillars in Hyde Park, built to honour those killed when bombs ripped through three London underground trains and a bus on July 7, 2005.
The structure, costing a reported £1 million, comprising 52 stainless steel columns with individual characteristics, was commissioned by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on behalf of the families of victims.
During the ceremony, the Prince stood with his head bowed as Trevor McDonald read out the names of each of the 52. That was followed by a minute’s silence and then, as rain began to fall, Charles and Camilla laid wreathes beside a plaque with the 52 names inscribed on it.
Prince Charles said the monument fulfils a deeply held need for the survivors and victims.
“Each one offers a path to peace and healing, each one honours the dead and each remind us to lead our lives in a way that would make them proud….
“I can only too well recall the intense despair and many other emotions that I experienced when my beloved great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, was murdered by terrorists 30 years ago next month, together with my godson, his grandmother and the boatman’s son,” he said, adding: “Everyone has their own way in responding to trauma, grief, injury and bereavement, but I do pray that all those touched by violence everywhere will eventually find peace again.”
He was joined by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, London Mayor Boris Johnson, former London Mayor Ken Livingston, Concervative Leader David Camaron, and a host of other dignitaries witnessed the unveiling of the monument at the south east corner of the park between Lover’s Walk and Park Lane.
Names of the victims were read out and a minute’s silence was observed.
Sharon Nicholson, 50, whose 24-year-old niece Jennifer Nicholson was killed on an underground train at Edgware Road, said she liked the pillars for their individual characteristics.
“There is one there that appeals to me more than the others because of its imperfections. They’re all individuals,” she said.
“I hugged one of the pillars. There was a coldness about them. The architects said as the day goes on when the sun shines on them they warm up,” she said.
The bombings on July 7 2005, carried out by four Islamists in suicide attacks, around 700 people were also injured in the attack.
Time Heals
Since the attacks four years ago many of hte survivors say they are starting to put these attacks behind them.
Susan Verghese, a 29-year-old teacher from Manchester, who was in London teaching English at the time of the attack, escaped from a train at Russell Square where 26 people were killed when a bomb was detonated inside the carriage.
“I’ve never really had anger for what has happened but I feel its time for survivors like me to try and rebuild my life and move on with the things I want to achieve,” she said.
“Now four years on you feel very grateful for life and you’ve been given a second chance,” she added.
Is it just me or does the UK government lack any real understanding of what the ‘free market’ is? Every since the 1980s the Chicago School of Economics has done a great service to the world by telling governments to sell all its valuable assets, so that’s what we did, so why does the UK government keep nationalising companies it sold?
Justice Secretary Jack Straw has denied jailed football fan Michael Shields a pardon. We think that Straw is a coward and for claiming that he would have to be ‘satisfied that Mr Shields was morally and technically innocent’ is a farce. We hope you will join us in getting justice for Michael Shields.
MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) – The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of a tight U.S. Senate race over Republican Norm Coleman, which should give Democrats the 60-seat majority they need to overcome procedural obstacles and push through their agenda.
