Manchester marks four years since the 22 May 2017 terror attack

Manchester is marking four years since the terrorist attack in which 22 people were killed after an Ariana Grande concert.

As pandemic-related restrictions remain in place remembrance events have been scaled back, but the anniversary will be marked during the morning (9am) and evening (4.30pm) prayer services at Manchester Cathedral, during which the names of those who lost their lives will be read out. The services will be livestreamed via the Manchester Cathedral Facebook page.

During the day, the cathedral will be open from 9.30am to 4.30pm for private prayer and the lighting of candles.

Today is also about families being surrounded by their loved ones.

Figen Murray's son, Martyn Hett, was among those who died in the attack. She's spending the day with his family and friends.

"I cannot wait to see Martyn's friends. I've seen family in small pockets here and there. I'm desperate to see them all.

"I'm hoping some of Martyn's family and friends are going to get together in the garden, by the tree, and we can spend that time together reminiscing and just being with each other."

Figen hopes the whole city will take a moment to pause and remember what happened: "The Arena attack was an attack not just against the 22 poor people who died - but an attack against the city of Manchester. An attack against the fabric of what this beautiful city is all about."

In line with the arrangements around the Duke of Edinburgh’s recent funeral, people are being politely discouraged to leave floral or other tributes outside the cathedral or elsewhere in the city centre.

The cathedral bells will be tolled at 10.31pm to mark the exact anniversary of the attack, as will those of St Ann’s Church in St Ann’s Square.

From next year the focal point of any commemorations will be the Glade of Light memorial. Work to create this is ongoing and is due to be completed by December and it will be open for next year’s fifth anniversary.

Remembrance events across Manchester

Northern is preparing to mark four years since the Manchester Arena bombing and help others do the same during the current coronavirus-related restrictions.

A minute's silence, in memory of the victims, will be broadcast from Victoria station at 12pm on its Facebook page to allow those who are social distancing to pay their respects from their own homes.

Floor stickers in the shape of the Manchester worker bee have also been placed on the floor at the station, at two-metre intervals surrounding the memorial, to allow members of the public to pay tribute to the victims while safely social distancing.

Station staff will light 22 bee candles in memory of the victims and will also be on hand to help those who wish to pay tribute in person do so while complying with the current restrictions.

Northern will also observe a minute’s silence at 10.31pm - the exact time of the attack and the station exterior will be illuminated in yellow.

Jenny Preston, Station Manager at Manchester Victoria, said: “We will pay our respects once more to those who lost their lives in the attack on Manchester Arena. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by the tragedy and especially with the families and friends of those who lost loved ones.

“We want to make sure that everyone who wants to - including those who are unable to be here in person – has the opportunity to pay their respects to all those affected by this tragedy. That's why we're live-streaming our minute’s silence at 12pm via our Facebook page.

“We recognise that many people will want to visit the station on Saturday, and we would urge anyone passing through to please adhere to social distance rules and take the usual precautions if making journeys using our trains.”

The area near to Soldiers’ Gate inside Manchester Victoria Station, which is managed by Northern, is a permanent memorial to those who lost their lives at the arena and new artwork has been installed in honour of the victims by local graphic artist Dez, also known as Loveartpix.

Dez said: “It is an honor to have created this artwork in memory of the victims of the Manchester arena bombings and to see it hung in the station.

“Being from the city myself, I wanted to portray our strength and unity - symbolised by the worker bees.

"My thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy.”

Visitors to the station will also have a place to reflect as a new bench and blossom tree has been installed at Soldier’s Gate.

Two artists have paid tribute to the 22 people who lost their lives with an incredible window memorial at Manchester Victoria station.

Each bee has a name in, and they have been visited by some of the families this week.

The artists behind it are asking anyone who passes this week to take a moment to read each of their names - and remember them.

Myro Coates is one of the illustrators behind it, she told us why she wanted to create the memorial: "In Manchester, even four years on, we are strong but we need to process how difficult this was, how sad this was, how sad it still is - and we're going to do that together.

"I hope that people will take a moment, take in the names, read them all, read each one. It's ok to be sad - but I think the best tribute of all is to remember them and appreciate them."

'Manchester will never forget'

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester will never forget the terrible events of 22 May 2017 nor the moving way the city came together to express solidarity with all those affected by the attack and a determination not to give in to hatred.

“This year will pay our respects once more, albeit in a necessarily low key fashion, and our thoughts remain especially with the families of those who lost loved ones in the attack.”

Joanne Roney OBE, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, said: “Four years may have passed but we know that for many the pain of what happened on 22 May 2017 has not diminished. We will always remember those who were killed, as well as those left with physical and mental injuries.

“Of course, anniversaries have a particular resonance but we don't just remember them one day every year and it is heartening that good progress is being made on the city’s permanent memorial.”

'I've been battling the odds for four years now'

Over the last four years we've continued to hear incredible stories of bravery, strength and resilience.

Martin Hibbert, who was the closest person to the bomb to survive, was paralysed from the waist down in the bombing.

After several challenges in recent years, including completing the Manchester 10km in his wheelchair in 2018, Martin's now embarking on the ambition of a lifetime.

It's to reach to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest peak - and he's calling the challenge #MartinsMountain.

His aim is to take the London 2012 Paralympic torch to the mountain’s summit in an epic seven-day expedition from 1 September in a specially-adapted hand bike - at the same time the Paralympics are being played out in Tokyo.

Training is now well underway after just finishing a week in Wales - with sights now set on Snowdon.

Martin told us he hopes it will inspire others who find themselves in a similar situation to him: "I'm just picturing myself up the summit and what that will do for people with spinal cord injuries, what it will for disabled people.

"What a message that gives to everybody to everybody around the world. That makes me really happy."

But having taken on a challenge every year since the attack in 2017, he's teased that this might be the last one for a while.

"My wife like's 'look, come on - you've survived death once lets not keep doing it on an annual basis'. But it is a fight to prove people wrong.

"I've been battling odds since four years ago when I wasn't look like I was going to survive a ten minute journey in an ambulance to hospital. A lot of things have got me though, which will get me through Kilimanjaro, its just having that positive mindset."

You can keep up to date with Martin's epic mountain adventure and donate by clicking here.