'What I admire most is how the people of Manchester responded to the arena attack - they never bow down'

The 22 people who tragically lost their lives in the Manchester Arena bombing have been remembered on the seventh anniversary. 

A stunning drone display had to be cancelled due to the heavy rain, but a memorial service was held at Victoria station at noon.  Railway chaplain Mike Roberts led the service to honour those who died on May 22, 2017, followed by a minute’s silence.

The station is directly connected to the AO Arena, where a terrorist attack occurred at 10:30pm after an Ariana Grande concert, seven years ago today.  Hundreds attended to pay their respects including Gavin Dunne, 25, is from Dublin. He attended an Ariana Grande Concert in his hometown just days before the attack in Manchester, and was heartbroken seeing events unfold over the news that night.  

He chooses to return to Manchester every year, on the anniversary of the bombing, to remember and pay tribute to those who lost their lives, and those affected.

“The reason why I keep coming back every year is because it made me change my perspective on the world - it made me think differently,” he said. “What I admire the most is how the people of Manchester really responded to this, they had the One Love Manchester gig, they have these events every year.

“No matter what happens, they never bow down to that fear, and I just felt a love for that. I come over every year, I bring back bee merchandise for my family and my friends and i just want to continue that sharing of that love and respect.” 

Sarah Lomas, 27, from Chorley, also came to pay her respects to all those who lost their lives, and were affected in the attack.  She said that although it’s an emotional day, it’s imperative that the victims continue to be remembered. 

“Their lives will never be forgotten,” she told ManchesterWorld. “I feel immense emotion that every fan and survivor has felt, I can envisage their pain, their suffering, and I know full well they're in heaven up there. We need to remember their names and we need to remember who they are.” 

Reading to those in attendance, chaplain Mike Roberts said: “Let us recall those whose voices were taken from us. Let us recall the scars from that day that will never fade. The city stood together. Today, we now stand together, and we will continue to stand together.”