Today, one year on, the Loreto College community remembered the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. The college came together at lunch time to reflect on the events, remember the victims and their families, but also to celebrate Manchester’s spirit of solidarity and to look forward with hope, strength and peace.

Emma, the college Lay Chaplain, led the short time of reflection, and students shared scripture from both the Christian and Islamic traditions, spent time writing messages of hope to be displayed across the college campus and there was even a wonderful version of the poem This Is The Place performed by both staff and students. Some of the students involved with music performed Ariana Grande’s No More Tears Left to Cry as well as accompanying us all with the Manchester classic Don’t Look Back In Anger. The trees in the grounds were decorated with 22 lanterns, one for each of the victims of the attack, and there was a minute’s silence to remember all those involved.

Thanks go to all those students who helped with readings and music. It was a powerful occasion, allowing us to appropriately remember, but more importantly look forward, and remind ourselves that we have more in common than that which sets us apart from each other, and embrace the solidarity and diversity of this special city.