A SILENT walk in memory of those who lost their lives in the horrific Grenfell Tower blaze five years ago was held in the heart of Worcester.
Members of local trade unions, Labour Parties and other supporters joined the walk through the city centre on Monday evening (June 14) on the fourth anniversary of the disaster.
The event was organised by Worcester Trades Union Council (WTUC) to remember the 72 people killed in the fire and to show solidarity with the Grenfell community in their continuing fight for justice.Those taking part led the procession with a ‘Worcester Remembers Grenfell’ banner before the names of the victims were read out before a one-minute’s silence.
A small kitchen fire in a Grenfell Tower flat on an estate in Kensington, west London in the early hours of June 14, 2017 turned into the most deadly domestic blaze since the Second World War.
Although four years have passed since the disaster, many of the issues raised by Grenfell have not been addressed. A recent investigation by the Labour Party found just two West Midlands buildings had had dangerous cladding removed – although none were found in Worcester.
Neil Bevan, brigade secretary of Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and chair of WTUC, said: “On the fourth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, FBU members in Hereford and Worcester send a message of solidarity to the bereaved, survivors and residents.
“We demand the Government takes urgent action to make homes safe by removing flammable cladding; to reverse years of deregulation and to put people over profit.
“Firefighters remember the victims and in their memory we continue to fight for justice.”
