Huge memorial quilt created by the Grenfell Tower community
A mother whose daughter survived in the fire began the tower sized project in North Kensington
The Grenfell Tower community have come together to create and sew a huge memorial quilt in memory of the 72 people lost in the fire on the 14 June 2017 in North Kensington.
Pieces of the quilt will be displayed around London today, 14 June, to mark the fifth anniversary of the fire.
Survivors say they have been using sewing to channel "seeds of anger" in the aftermath of the fire, by meeting weekly to work on a giant memorial quilt at North Kensington Library.
Local artist Tuesday Greenidge, 55, whose daughter survived the fire, has been running ‘Sewing for Justice’ sessions the library for members of the community since 2017.
What is the Grenfell memorial quilt?
Ms Greenidge decided to make a quilt the size of Grenfell Tower after the event of the blaze, to “symbolise justice” and to remember those who lost their lives.
Volunteers who have contributed to the quilt include survivors, family and friends of those lost in the disaster, community members and people from all over the world.
The quilt has already reached the width of the Grenfell Tower, 72ft (22m), and those involved aim to continue sewing until it reaches the height of the tower, 220ft (67m).
The vibrant and colourful patchwork is made up of personal messages and depictions of the people who died.
They have used donated materials and fabrics and sewing techniques have been inspired by the National AIDs Memorial quilt and rugs created by African-American slaves.
Supporting those affected by the Grenfell tragedy
Ms Greenidge has said that many people affected by the tragedy have found “comfort and reassurance” in the sewing sessions.
She said: “All the alternative groups, healing groups to help support them in their recovery, have closed down before the end of the inquiry, that’s why a lot of us have little seeds of anger.
“The aim was to be a hub where people could come and release and express these emotions through creating and colour, I know what I get from colour being an artist and there’s something mystical and magical about seeing it all blend together.
“I just wanted them to absorb that energy, to remind them that there are people in the community that love you and support you all, and we’re not going to go away.”
READ MORE: Memorial and silent walk mark five years since the Grenfell Tower fire in west London
Losing close friends in the Grenfell fire
Ms Greenidge lost several close friends in the fire, including 12-year-old Jessica Urbano Ramirez, who went to school with Neveah, her friend’s granddaughter who she looked after like her own.
Jessica’s name was the first she embroidered on the quilt.
Speaking about Neveah’s reaction to the death of her schoolfriend, Ms Greenidge said, “I had never heard a child wail like she did, it was deep used to tell her ‘let it go, let it go’.
“She used to sit on top my wardrobe and just… yeah.”
Another name on the quilt is Moses, the nickname that was given to 63-year-old grandfather Raymond Bernard in the community.
She said: “Moses was incredible everybody knew him, what we found out at his end was that there were a lot of residents that ended up in Moses’ flat, one of them was Jessica.
“And he laid the children in his bed, and that’s how they were found, the children went to his flat during the fire because they all knew and loved Moses.
“They went for comfort because Moses might know what to do, and he did, he knew to comfort them while they passed over.”
READ MORE: Grenfell Anniversary: London Mayor says lessons haven’t been learnt
'Remembering the Grenfell Tower blaze'
Ms Greenidge said her daughter, Charlie Manning, 38, had been visiting friends in the tower on the night of the blaze, and ran to alert her after escaping.
They watched the blaze in horror afterwards in scenes that Ms Greenidge described as “like a movie”.
Speaking about her daughter, she said: “She doesn’t talk about it that often, for quite a few days after she just had a fixed stare.
It feels a bit overwhelming already, because there’s a lot going on in the community, it’s a difficult time but nothing compared to what the bereaved are going through, so we’re there to support them.”
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