Church hosts Grenfell memorial two years on from blaze

Friday marks 24 months since a small kitchen fire in a west London high-rise turned into the most deadly domestic blaze since the Second World War.

Bereaved families gathered for a memorial service at the nearby St Helen’s Church in the morning, to begin a day of remembrance.

Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist and Grenfell survivor Leanne Mya sang during the service, which was attended by Communities Secretary James Brokenshire and fire minister Nick Hurd.

Afterwards white doves were released, and later there was a private gathering by the tower where survivors and bereaved laid wreaths.

Karim Mussilhy, whose uncle died in the fire, said it is important to stand together and continue campaigning because “we want to make sure the general public understand that the issues of Grenfell are still happening today”.

He told the Press Association: “Our plan is to come together with the rest of the community and be with each other, share some tears with each other, smiles with each other, and put our arms around each other and remember our loved ones and pay our respects.

“We also want to be a presence to everyone else, show them that we are still here and we are still standing strong together, dignified, respectful, we aren’t going to go away, we’re not going to fade away and we’re not going to let others forget our loved ones…