In pictures: crowds enjoy #ThankYouManchester

Saturday began with a heartfelt thank you from city bosses to some of the many local heroes of the pandemic with NHS workers, social care workers, vaccinations staff and volunteers among the guests of honour to receive a personal thank you from council Leader Sir Richard Leese. Members of the public were then invited to show their own thanks and be part of an oversized Love Letter to Manchester – a huge installation of human-sized letters, 1.4metres high and more than 14metres long which is in St Ann’s Square for the weekend. Three local artists are decorating the huge letters throughout the weekend, with visitors asked to add their own messages of thanks and gratitude to them. It’s hoped that when complete the letters will go on public display somewhere in the city as a reminder of everything and everyone that Manchester has been grateful for during the pandemic.

And crowds enjoyed live music and street theatre across the city centre.

On Sunday (15 August) there is a chance to come together to remember those we have lost and to reflect on the last year and a half, when the Reverend Canon Nigel Ashworth, joined by the Lord Mayor of Manchester Tommy Judge, will lead a short community gathering of thanksgiving and remembrance at 12.30 pm on St Ann’s Square. This will include musical contributions from the St Ann’s church choir and the Greenfield Brass Band, along with communal singing. There will also be a minute’s silence for the city to pause, stand together, and remember and reflect.