Manchester remembers bombing victims
The tolling of the bells of St Ann’s Church concludes our live coverage for the evening.
At this moment, it seems fitting to focus on the 22 victims of the terror attack. You can read their stories here:
Updated
Bells are ringing out from St Ann’s Church in Manchester to mark the exact time one year ago the bombing of the Ariana Grande concert happened.
My colleague, Tim Dowling, has reviewed the documentary, Manchester: The Night of the Bomb, which aired on BBC Two tonight.
Some of it, he writes, is “positively haunting. But it is also, in the end, inspiring, thanks to the determination of those present to tell their stories”. Read the full article here:
In a little less than 30 minutes – at 10.31pm – bells will ring across Manchester to mark the exact time one year ago that the lives of 22 people were taken in the Manchester Arena bombing.
The Manchester Evening News’ Jennifer Williams has this video from earlier in the evening, when the crowd sand Ariana Grande’s One Last Time:
Cathedral Gardens, Manchester ❤️ pic.twitter.com/XbBx2WJnB3
— Jennifer Williams (@JenWilliamsMEN) May 22, 2018
My colleagues, Helen Pidd and Frances Perraudin, were at this evening’s commemoration. Here’s some of what they saw and heard there:
Never forget pic.twitter.com/67TPpNU6OO
— Helen Pidd (@helenpidd) May 22, 2018
Crowd gives a huge HUGE round of applause in tribute to the victims of the attack. “This is what love sounds like,” says poet Tony Walsh #ManchesterTogether pic.twitter.com/KtQT9Yu3HR
— Frances Perraudin (@fperraudin) May 22, 2018
First singalong song is, of course, Don’t Look Back in Anger 🎵 🎤 🎶 pic.twitter.com/YllgEVkK5T
— Frances Perraudin (@fperraudin) May 22, 2018
And for the surprise grand finale of tonight’s #ManchesterTogether singalong we have All You Need Is Love 💕 💖 💗 pic.twitter.com/2iYDcqDoyH
— Frances Perraudin (@fperraudin) May 22, 2018
During the event, the audience heard recorded messages from Ryan Giggs, Mani from The Stone Roses, and Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths.
Giggs said: “Manchester is a city of music and is a city of love, and we are sending out love and prayers on this emotional day.”
In his message, Mani told the crowd: “One voice Manchester. Sing it up.” Marr said:
I wish I was with you tonight. My heart is always going to be in Manchester, always has been and always will be. I am proud to be a Mancunian. I am sure it will be an emotional occasion.
Liam Fray, of The Courteeners, recorded a message telling the audience:
We are a proud city of love and I will be thinking of each and every one of you on this very emotional and very difficult day.
And Shaun Ryder, of the Happy Mondays, said:
I am thinking of you. In fact I know I love you all big time massive. I am going to send 0161 love and peace vibes to the world.
Earlier this evening, the Manchester Survivors Choir performed Andra Day’s Rise Up:
The Manchester Survivors choir, made up of parents and children who survived the bombing, sings Rise Up by Andra Day #ManchesterTogether pic.twitter.com/FI75BaNPmA
— Frances Perraudin (@fperraudin) May 22, 2018
Earlier in the event, the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Dr David Walker, told the audience:
We are a city of music so it is appropriate that we come together to let our music come to the forefront of who we are.
We are going to hear some fantastic choirs tonight. That is the the way we do things together. Doing things together makes us stronger and makes us Manchester.
The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Joan Hitchen, said:
Tonight the city of Manchester continues to demonstrate our solidarity to those who were affected by the terrible events of one year ago.”
She thanked the brave men and women of the various emergency responders who helped “bring our Manchester together again”. The crowd responded with huge applause as she said: “Weren’t they brilliant?” Hitchen added:
We also stand in solidarity with each other as Mancunians and tonight we are going to show the world that we stand together.
The final song of this evening’s singalong, preceded by a message from Gary Barlow, is Take That’s Never Forget.
Next up and sung with perhaps the most gusto so far, is Ariana Grande’s One Last Time; the lyrics to which you can find here.
Introducing the second song – Elbow’s One Day Like This – the band’s singer Guy Garvey tells the crowd:
It’s a wonderful thing that you’re doing. This song is set in Albert Square, where you’re standing. It’s about the first morning of new love. Love’s something that our city’s famous for. Go on Manchester!
Noel Gallagher is on the screen to introduce Don’t Look Back in Anger – the first song in the singalong portion of this evening’s commemoration.
This short video might give you an idea of the size of the crowd, as we prepare to go to the singalong:
Albert Square is looking incredible this evening! #McrTogether 🐝 pic.twitter.com/lmUDcf0xW7
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) May 22, 2018
Addressing the crowds before we get to that point, the Coronation Street actor, Jennie McAlpine, tells anyone still needing help dealing with the events of last year to visit manchesterattacksupport.org.uk.
Before we move on to the main event, the poet Tony Walsh asks the crowd to “make a minute’s noise for the 22”, as well as those who were hurt physically and mentally and the medical staff.
City fans go first – then United fans. “Now, let’s show the world what it sounds like that Manchester is a city united”, says Walsh. He adds: “The world is watching, the world is listening. This is what love sounds like” as the crowd cheers and applauds.
The crowd is listening to a choir made up of survivors of the terror attack, who are singing Andra Ray’s Rise Up – each of them holding a candle.
Updated
Some of the sentiment on Twitter this evening as the crowd listens to a rendition of Heather Small’s Proud by the AMC Gospel Choir:
Nice to see Manchester saying tonight at the event in Albert Square that terrorism may have targeted those attending a concert so tell you what- we'll put on a concert ourselves, people from every music genre will come and we'll sing even louder 👍🏻
— Father Spodo Komodo (@ChareeOkee) May 22, 2018
I will never forget seeing so so many people turn up to Albert Square this evening. My god I can’t stop crying
— Jamie (@xjmierobert) May 22, 2018
There aren't many things more Mancunian than Albert Square singing Proud? I don't think so. (And I'm trying not to well up) #ManchesterTogether The way the city has reacted over the last year, makes me very proud.
— Connaire Demain (@conn1231) May 22, 2018
The scenes in Albert Square, Manchester right now.
— James Doe (@JayDoe50) May 22, 2018
Incredible. Simply incredible.
What a city. What a community.
🐝 #NeverForget
The Manchester Evening News has what they call an “extraordinary picture of Albert Square tonight”.
They are right.
An extraordinary picture of Albert Square tonight. #ManchesterTogether #WeStandTogether https://t.co/Q0ewjWRNgt pic.twitter.com/j0a3LOFAHh
— Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) May 22, 2018
Earlier in the evening, Manchester’s mayor, Andy Burnham, and the chief constable of Greater Manchester police, Ian Hopkins, were also pictured listening to one of the choirs.
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Claire Allen, 36, who works for a food company in Manchester, says she loves her adoptive city.
It just brought us all together. You can see it with all the children wearing the Manchester Together t-shirts that all the school kids are wearing. We just want to send a message to the people who have ruined the way of life in Manchester that they have failed miserably.
The idea of the sing along is really nice. I’ll sing along, even if it is out of tune.
Ange Kinder, 47, is in Albert Square with her friend Toni Joyce, 47. Kinder knows people who were at the arena but were unhurt.
It’s about paying respects really. Everybody pulled together last year and it’s nice to see it again this year.
She says that most people know of someone who was either at the arena that night or knew of someone who was there that night. That is certainly true of Rob Ringrose, 32, who says a friend of a friend died.
It was an attack on Manchester as well an attack people living their fee lives. The city’s response reaffirms that the north and Manchester is a powerful place to be.
The broadcaster, Terry Christian, is introducing “some of the bravest people and most respected people in Manchester” – a choir made up of members of the emergency services, appearing in their various uniforms to sing Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
They are received with loud applause by the large crowd that has gathered in Albert Square.
Updated
The crowd is now watching a recorded message from the band, New Order.
Manchester. The hope I held inside, with you, was kept alive...
Next up is the Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus, with a medley of some anthems by Manchester-based acts, opening with New Order’s Blue Monday and moving seamlessly into Oasis’ Wonderwall.
Quite hard to make out, but there seem to be 22 white balloons flying over Albert Square as the #ManchesterTogether event is going on pic.twitter.com/0dQzs5cRsV
— Frances Perraudin (@fperraudin) May 22, 2018
The athlete, Diane Modahl, is introducing children’s choirs linked to Manchester United and Manchester City, who have formed The One Voice Choir for this evening’s event.
Can you believe it? Two rival football clubs have come together to sing together.
They will sing (Something Inside) So Strong, which was written by the British artist Labi Siffre.
Updated
Prior to the minute’s silence, Walker addressed the crowd:
Bishop of Manchester David Walker says that last year’s bombing brought the city together. pic.twitter.com/mN9dTIXoAD
— Frances Perraudin (@fperraudin) May 22, 2018
On the stage now are the children of the Manchester One Voice choir, singing This is Why We Sing.
The poet and ceremonial head of the University of Manchester, Lemn Sissay, is performing his poem Let There Be Peace, which you can read here.
The crowd has just observed a minute’s silence, lead by David Walker, the bishop of Manchester.
Updated
The lord mayor of Manchester, June Hitchen, is welcoming the crowds to Albert Square.
Tonight, we are going to show the world that we stand together.
My colleague, Helen Pidd, has also managed to film some of the delivery of some of the recorded messages from earlier, which you can see here.
The crowd that has gathered at Albert Square is hearing recorded messages from famous names, including the current Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany and the former Manchester United player Ryan Giggs.
There was also a performance of Tony Walsh’s poem This is the Place, which became closely linked to the tragedy by his rendition of it at the vigil in its aftermath.
Tony Walsh’s tribute to Manchester ‘This is the Place’. Huge cheer when Pankhurst gets a mention #ManchesterTogether pic.twitter.com/kCmtxJmCgh
— Frances Perraudin (@fperraudin) May 22, 2018
Ready to sing our socks off for the 22 #withonevoice #Manchester pic.twitter.com/QVCPAx9cm1
— Helen Pidd (@helenpidd) May 22, 2018
Updated
We’re almost underway in Manchester.
Crowds getting ready to sing at the #ManchesterTogether singalong in Albert Square to mark a year since the bombing pic.twitter.com/tA0zLeHPqS
— Frances Perraudin (@fperraudin) May 22, 2018
While we wait, you can read the stories of the 22 people who died in the atrocity a year ago today:
My colleagues are in Albert Square and will be sending back reports as the commemoration goes on.
Crowds gathering in Manchester’s Albert Square for this evening’s Together With One Voice event to mark a year since the arena bomb. The weather is glorious. #ManchesterTogether pic.twitter.com/189O8DxvKT
— Frances Perraudin (@fperraudin) May 22, 2018
Manchester remembers Arena bombing victims with singalong
Thousands of people are gathering in central Manchester a year on from the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert, a short walk away.
Attendees are expected to sing along to Oasis’ Don’t Look Back in Anger, Elbow’s One Day Like This and One Last time, by Ariana Grande. The programme also includes Never Forget, by Take That and the organisers have provided the lyrics to each.
My colleague, Helen Pidd, has written a helpful guide to the day’s events, including the singalong:
It’s getting underway and we’ll bring you updates here.
Updated
