Grenfell Tower Inquiry - Commemoration Hearing (22 May 2018 - Pt 2 of 2)
00:08:26 ladies and gentlemen as I think you will all know today is the anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing and for that purpose there will
00:08:38 bombing and for that purpose there will be a national observation of a minute's silence which has been arranged for 2:30 this afternoon although we're here to
00:08:49 afternoon although we're here to remember the victims of the grenal tower fire I hope you agree with me that it would be appropriate for us to express our sympathy for and solidarity with
00:09:00 our sympathy for and solidarity with those who were injured and bereaved by the terrorist act in Manchester for us to observe a minute silence at halfast 2 would I fear
00:09:11 silence at halfast 2 would I fear disrupt the next uh commemoration and it therefore seems to me more appropriate that we should observe that silence ourselves now
00:09:22 observe that silence ourselves now rather than to cause the disruption that it would involve if we did it later on so with that in mind I'm going to invite you to stand with me to observe a minute's silence to commemorate the
00:09:34 minute's silence to commemorate the victims of the terrorist offense in
00:09:58 Manchester
00:10:28 for
00:10:39 thank you all very
00:10:44 much yes Mr
00:10:48 Richmond the next commemoration is a second set of commemorations to Mary meny and Kadija
00:10:59 commemorations to Mary meny and Kadija say from Flat
00:11:04 173 and it involves a number of people with a number of different presentations the first of the
00:11:15 presentations the first of the presentations is a statement by a person called par Saar who has asked that Martin how from Howen Co read his
00:11:27 Martin how from Howen Co read his statement and I'm going to ask as how to come to the Le turn and read that statement good thank
00:11:39 you so this is a statement on behalf of the brother of Mary mendi and the uncle to Kaja
00:11:48 to Kaja parar my name is parar I was born in Gambia in September 1958 I am the eldest of three brothers and sisters
00:12:00 and sisters two of my sisters Betty and Mary were born in
00:12:05 born in Gambia my other sister Caroline and my two younger brothers David and Nathaniel were born in this country I want to say a few words about my sister Mary and my
00:12:18 a few words about my sister Mary and my niece
00:12:21 niece Kaja who both lived on the 20th floor in grenfell
00:12:26 grenfell Tower tragically both them passed away in the fire on the 14th June
00:12:36 2017 Mary was the first of my siblings to settle permanently in this country she came over here with my mother many years
00:12:47 mother many years ago I used to visit her from time to time but I stayed living in The Gambia until about 16 years ago when I moved to London and I settled in Stockwell
00:13:01 by the time I moved here Mary was already living in granfield Tower and I used to spend a lot of time with her there and with
00:13:12 there and with kaj I sometimes used to stay over in their flat at the weekends as I was new to London I spent a lot of time traveling around and looking at things and my sister showed
00:13:25 looking at things and my sister showed me the
00:13:26 me the SS she was an excellent and Brilliant tool guide my sister was also a very good cook and she used to enjoy cooking
00:13:39 cook and she used to enjoy cooking gambian food for us when I came to see her used to have feasts together it reminded us both of home I used to travel abroad with my
00:13:51 home I used to travel abroad with my sister and I have very fond memories of a trip we both made back to Gambia together
00:14:00 together together I moved back to Gambia about 8 years ago and stayed there for two years and then came back to Britain and started Living in
00:14:12 started Living in Coventry that meant that my visits to see Mary were more difficult as I simply couldn't travel down to London as often as I would like to
00:14:25 have when I heard about the fire at
00:14:30 at grenfell I was full of dread and when I found out that both kud and Mary were missing I was
00:14:42 devastated I simply could not and cannot come to terms with their loss they were both just such lovely
00:14:55 loss they were both just such lovely women I think about both of them every day no matter where I am or what I am doing I'm not able to stop thinking about them and I don't want
00:15:10 to I remember the funerals for both kajay and
00:15:14 kajay and Mary very many people attended both funerals before my sister Mary's funeral family were advised and we agreed that we should wear
00:15:27 we should wear white we told that so many people were expected to turn up for the funeral that it would help and allow MERS mourners to identify family members in the event
00:15:40 identify family members in the event hundreds of people turned up for Mary's funeral there were so many that the mourners could not all fit into the chapel hundreds of people had to stand
00:15:54 outside Mary was just so popular with so many people she bounded with people regardless of their race their color or
00:16:05 regardless of their race their color or their
00:16:07 their Creed the loss of both Mary and gaja makes no sense to me at all they have both been taken away from us far too
00:16:19 us far too soon and they both had so much more to live
00:16:27 for
00:16:44 ready um good afternoon I'm here today to honor Mary and
00:16:52 and Cadia but before I do so I'd just like to tell you my name is Clary Mendy Solomon and the the delegation I'm here with today I'll briefly introduce you to
00:17:03 with today I'll briefly introduce you to this is my elder brother Ambrose who is also going to present um a reading a tribute we have our barisa L QC Leslie
00:17:15 tribute we have our barisa L QC Leslie Thomas Linda Baker who is a solicitor
00:17:22 solicitor tella who is also working alongside Mr Lewis we have Francis Diane Emma and my cousin
00:17:33 cousin deal
00:17:35 deal um Rush that's the most important thing we can take our time but I think you've learned the first problem we have which is if you turn away on that particular microphone we lose your voice so I may
00:17:48 microphone we lose your voice so I may say to you from time to time we just need to lose your voice okay thank you we can wink at each other like that if it's easier for us good okay um first of all I'd like to extend my heartfelt
00:18:02 all I'd like to extend my heartfelt sympathy to all my cousins Mary's siblings here and abroad in The Gambia to all her nephews nieces and great nephews and nieces and
00:18:13 nieces and great nephews and nieces and to all the cousins and extended family as well as to gad's father and the rest of the family I'd also like to extend my sympathy and appreciation to The Wider
00:18:26 sympathy and appreciation to The Wider community that have been very supportive of the family in the aftermath of The grandfa
00:18:38 Inferno now what we're going to do is take it piece by piece I think the first thing you're going to do is read something you've written which includes
00:18:51 something you've written which includes something you think her that Mary's father would have wanted to say and a poem is is that right my father your father forgive me and a poem that's
00:19:03 father forgive me and a poem that's correct um first I would like to say before I read this my father um brought Mary to this country she lived with us before she moved on and
00:19:16 before she moved on and settled and if my father were here on Earth today I can car I can guarantee this is what he would say Mary aimi when I Ed you with your
00:19:29 say Mary aimi when I Ed you with your application for your visa to come to the family home in the UK I did so as an uncle a
00:19:38 uncle a humanitarian thinking you would embark on a journey to further discover this world reconnect with your family abroad study make well of yourself and live a
00:19:49 study make well of yourself and live a long happy life if my father were alive today and saw what become of you and your daughter Cadia
00:19:59 Cadia what you both endured to the last breath of air I think it would be as gutted as us all even more so as he assisted you in obtaining your visa to enter the
00:20:12 in obtaining your visa to enter the UK we his children my family I'm one of 10 feel the guilt and pain of what you suffered and what you ultim ultimately
00:20:23 suffered and what you ultim ultimately inevitably endured we the children of the late antal mending of are so so sorry sorry that our father even helped you to come to London to meet this terrible haunting
00:20:35 to London to meet this terrible haunting end I know in my heart that my father never thought one day your dreams aspiration hopes reality and lives would be shattered
00:20:47 be shattered overnight Mary had you stayed on the smiling coast of West Africa The Gambia I am positive you would still be on this Earth plane today we the children of Anton mendi
00:21:00 today we the children of Anton mendi have taken up the humanitarian Batton which he wielded we pledge to fight for your Justice truth account ability restitution for the death for you your
00:21:12 restitution for the death for you your daughter and the 71 other people consumed in The Inferno who are your neighbors community and Friends your friends family and community members
00:21:23 friends family and community members miss you and pray for you every day as a child of my par parents I would never give up in the fight for equality human rights and Justice I pray you never died in
00:21:37 Justice I pray you never died in vain peace be with you my smiling Angel be assured my late father never insisted in bringing you here to the UK to end in an early
00:21:50 grave and now like to write a poem to read a poem that I WR for my pen
00:22:02 portrait Mary meny sister Auntie cousin and friend she loved and was loved by everybody until the very
00:22:13 everybody until the very end I remember the days we spent in the sun on The Smiling coast of West Africa The Gambia we had so much fun the love and happiness that genuinely flowed her
00:22:26 and happiness that genuinely flowed her smile was like sunshine she really glowed Mary was spiritual loving and giving Mary worked hard with Val for her family for a living so warm and gentle
00:22:40 family for a living so warm and gentle like a beautiful Summer Breeze being in Mary's company one was at tease Mary meny and Kad you say millions of people worldwide heard about that
00:22:53 of people worldwide heard about that tragic day that you perished and died in the in the INF famous grimfield Tower people watched and prayed hour by hour praying you had made it sely safely
00:23:04 hour praying you had made it sely safely out of the building praying you both were still on Earth with the living no one expected you ever to both meet this tragic end it's still
00:23:15 meet this tragic end it's still unbelievable one can only imagine how you were left to fend so sorry we couldn't do more to prolong your lives so you were cut down by a blazing Force more dangerous than a
00:23:27 by a blazing Force more dangerous than a knif
00:23:29 knif we've only form memories of you we are left to live in the land of the living you have found loving so for of life and
00:23:38 life and forgiving we lost an angel when you left out this
00:23:42 out this realm the family and your community held you at the helm such beautiful souls just passing through you left your legacy shining
00:23:54 through you left your legacy shining artistically too from caring to sharing giving and loving you gave to one and all your soul Shone brightly resonating very tall I
00:24:07 Shone brightly resonating very tall I send my love to you my cousins good Souls on this Earth May Divine spiritual eternity love be your rebirth into heaven you've descended to
00:24:18 rebirth into heaven you've descended to sit among Angels at the Final End gone never to be forgotten forever my friend cousin
00:24:26 cousin family
00:24:29 family [Applause]
00:24:40 [Applause] thank you
00:24:41 thank you Clary I think now that Ambrose is going to come
00:24:54 forward now Ambrose there's two parts to your address aren't there there are indeed yes and so you're going to I
00:25:05 indeed yes and so you're going to I think talk a little about both ladies but also to read a poem indeed and which are you going to do first I'm going to read the poem
00:25:17 first this is a pen portrait of Mary and Kadija written by my sister nelisa rest in peace Mary and kadijah
00:25:29 nelisa rest in peace Mary and kadijah two young lives cut tragically short amongst 71 others in the fire at grandall they were fatally CAU a lifetime ahead of them two
00:25:41 CAU a lifetime ahead of them two beautiful cousins with so much to give mother and daughter side by side together they' lived cousin Mary smile so bright has helped make so many
00:25:52 so bright has helped make so many people's burdens light a word advice a hug or some food her presence could really help lift the mood those in need were welcomed into
00:26:04 mood those in need were welcomed into her heart guidance protection love and laughter she'd impart she worked so hard she gave her best a supporter of people
00:26:16 she gave her best a supporter of people who more often said yes she raised her daughter welcoming family and friends it is absolutely mindblowing when we know how it
00:26:28 mindblowing when we know how it ends on the brink of success Kadija had a plan she fought so hard to make a stand though life hadn't been easy she
00:26:39 stand though life hadn't been easy she didn't give up she fought her way to get to the top together they've entered into death which has left us all feeling so bereft I pray for them and all who died
00:26:53 bereft I pray for them and all who died in this awful tragic fire I pray for them that Justice will come and not just be remembered as a lesson to be learned may God Almighty bless all those Souls
00:27:06 may God Almighty bless all those Souls whose avoidable deaths have taken them home may all of us left behind be given strength and comfort find from broken hearts and memories please help us God
00:27:17 hearts and memories please help us God and our families we need healing and Assurance it will not happen again we need to see that Justice is done that not one life will have been in vain for
00:27:29 not one life will have been in vain for all the families of the granel fire and those within the community my heart goes out to every single one of you and those who also watched it on TV May your souls
00:27:41 who also watched it on TV May your souls rest in Eternal peace dear Mary sister Auntie cousin friend and neighbor and kadijah daughter niece cousin friend and neighbor as we continue to seek the truth and respect for grandall gone but
00:27:56 truth and respect for grandall gone but never
00:27:59 never forgotten Ambrose thank
00:28:08 you now as far as I've understand from speaking to you a little earlier there was a memorial for Mary and Cadia and
00:28:19 was a memorial for Mary and Cadia and what happened was that at some point you spoke yes so I think we've got the memorial to play and then it will stop at the point when you spoke and in fact
00:28:30 at the point when you spoke and in fact you will then speak to us thank you rather than seeing you saying so I don't know if you want to take your seat while we play this I know it lasts for a few minutes okay but we're going to watch the
00:28:40 the memorial and then when it finishes at the place where you would have spoken you'll come and tell us what you want to say sure very good thank you very much can we please then dim the lights and
00:28:52 can we please then dim the lights and show the
00:28:56 memorial
00:29:07 [Music] God
00:29:18 God has Smile on me he has set me free
00:29:29 me he has set me free [Music]
00:29:36 [Music] me he's been good he's been good to me to
00:29:43 to me sing one more time and say God is [Music]
00:29:51 [Music] God
00:29:53 God me he has fre [Music]
00:30:03 [Music] [Applause] free smile on me good he's been good to
00:30:14 me good he's been good to [Music]
00:30:18 [Music] me he is
00:30:22 me he is the of
00:30:26 my one day F me with his
00:30:34 love and everything that I needed oh he sent it
00:30:45 [Music] down oh my
00:30:52 God smile on me
00:30:58 me he
00:30:59 he [Music]
00:31:06 [Music] has we come together today to remember to lament to give thanks for Mary
00:31:17 Mary Cadia
00:31:18 Cadia bti Bel and
00:31:26 Isaac out of the depths I have cried to you oh lord lord hear my
00:31:38 lord lord hear my voice let your ears consider well the voice of my
00:31:45 supplication God is our strength and refuge a very present help in times of
00:31:56 refuge a very present help in times of trouble
00:31:57 trouble we meet in the name of Jesus Christ who died and was raised to the glory of God the Father we come to give thanks for our loved ones who have died to comfort one another with the
00:32:11 died to comfort one another with the word of
00:32:12 word of life and to seek God in these days of
00:32:20 Sorrow Grace and peace be with you and also you
00:32:32 good afternoon uh my name is adelade I'm kad's cousin and it's just a small something I've written about my feelings and my experience with younger Kadija and it goes so the things that
00:32:45 Kadija and it goes so the things that ran through my mind that night scared to sleep wondering if I had missed something if there was a family friend that lived in the area where they had gone to after they had
00:32:56 gone to after they had escaped was there another Center that we weren't aware of did we ask the right questions at the hospitals and were we given the right answers could one of them be in a coma
00:33:07 answers could one of them be in a coma whilst the other in shock not remembering any contact details might they be
00:33:12 they be separated because that would be the worst
00:33:15 worst thing I closed my eyes and I said a prayer Lord wherever they might be I pray that they are together so it it's now the 15th of June
00:33:26 together so it it's now the 15th of June 2017
00:33:27 2017 at around 3:30 a.m. I hear banging in the distance I heard the door open followed by my sister Calling My Name the police leaz and officers at
00:33:38 Name the police leaz and officers at that moment I was shocked confused and D dumbfounded all at the same time I zoned out I could hear my heartbeat inside my head I tried to think it's not her that've got the wrong
00:33:52 think it's not her that've got the wrong person I fought with my feelings I kept believing kept hoping and praying denial left and pain kicked in I felt an excruciating and an almost unbearable
00:34:03 excruciating and an almost unbearable pain I felt parous at the thought that there was nothing else that I could have done through her through her expressive art Kadija brings us into her heart and
00:34:15 art Kadija brings us into her heart and we tap into her soul she takes us on a journey into understanding her life growing up in the multifaith household and showed us her Inspirations from the Christian baptism
00:34:26 Inspirations from the Christian baptism to the way the Muslims pray she invited us into her home introduced us to her mother and the gambian
00:34:34 gambian culture she let us into her world a world that she treasured on a summer's day we would look up from the park guessing which window belonged to her to US ah yes the
00:34:47 window belonged to her to US ah yes the ever so flamboyant red curtains that emulated anti Mar's personality that big smile and her love for enjoyment meant she would always be the last person in the dance floor Carnival was always her
00:34:59 the dance floor Carnival was always her best summer activity she would sign us all up with st Clemens and pay for our costume so we could take part and she would make us dance all day long kad's Holy Communion was another
00:35:11 long kad's Holy Communion was another special day dressed beautifully in white from head to toe there wasn't a child in sight dressed better than her I had never seen so many happy kids and adults in one
00:35:22 in one flat the children were running around from the 20th story flat into the lift and down to the center where they had an extra party I remember anunt Mary insisting for every child to have a
00:35:33 insisting for every child to have a party bag that adults ate drank and danced into the early evening these are the memories I choose to
00:35:42 to remember 173 greenfeld Tower the flats where families got together for parties and where social Gatherings were held a place where love was given and
00:35:53 held a place where love was given and received where endless Joy was felt that happy place now stands a war zone dipped in blood black filled with ashes and skeletons with the silent voices that will never
00:36:04 with the silent voices that will never be
00:36:05 be heard the lost soul Whispers the question is why in the silence you can hear the wind blowing but it will never be seen no
00:36:17 seen no sound the tower was once so Lively colorful and full of Happiness today we hear Echoes of Screams in the distance we hear different tongues speak in
00:36:28 we hear different tongues speak in foreign languages yet we understand we become one one family one nation one Society in morning my mind took a journey pictures
00:36:40 morning my mind took a journey pictures memories hugs kisses Gatherings weekends and Summers spent memories wiped out in minutes a lasting reminder of the pain we
00:36:50 we share right there where the towers stood tall and proud representing the Forgotten minority became the majority in the mul Multicultural London the Regeneration of the isol which has taken
00:37:02 Regeneration of the isol which has taken away my aunt and cousin forever frustration gave way to anger and I wanted to blame someone as the dear pants for water saw my soul Longs after
00:37:14 my soul Longs after you you alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship you oh Lord my prayers were answered they were at least together Kadija has reminded me that
00:37:25 together Kadija has reminded me that there is something bigger than just working her creativity and passion has inspired people to do better and make a difference eventually she would have been well
00:37:36 been well established a humble and peaceful Soul Kadija was proactive and Her Mind Set On making something of herself she touched people's
00:37:48 herself she touched people's hearts she has left behind the most valuable thing which is the difference she has made in people's lives through ART and those she met in person her creativity will live
00:38:00 person her creativity will live forever if I had another moment with Kadija I would Embrace her tell her how special she is and how much she is loved to the younger Kadija I would say don't
00:38:12 to the younger Kadija I would say don't worry about a thing because God will take
00:38:16 take control you are my inspiration Rest In the Arms of the Lord kadan and
00:38:25 Mar
00:38:32 David Lamy MP and his wife Nicola has sent a tribute with ads is going to share that with
00:38:52 us David and his wife Nicola uh have penned this and uh I'll give it up to you our journey with kadas and Mary meny began
00:39:04 journey with kadas and Mary meny began in
00:39:05 in 2014 when my wife NCA this is in David's hand was a judge on the panel of the Discerning Eye exhibition where she selected kad's series of work
00:39:18 selected kad's series of work crowned there was an important moment for Kadija as she' finished her photography ba UCA far and for Mary a proud mother who
00:39:31 far and for Mary a proud mother who embraced her daughter's artistic Vision kadida always talked lovingly about her family and friends particularly the strong bond with her mother
00:39:40 mother Mary kadida was Nicholas Mente for over three years and throughout this period Kad developed a close relationship with our family and became an important part
00:39:52 our family and became an important part of our
00:39:53 of our Lives as we got to know her more we watched cadra immerse herself in the art World her interests in identity activism Heritage and Faith
00:40:07 identity activism Heritage and Faith steadily
00:40:09 steadily grew and informed her practice in deeper ways during her time working for Nicola as a studio assistant she was working on
00:40:20 as a studio assistant she was working on her series I Kadija spoke often about her multifaith heritage and spiritual spirituality which was a source of constant inspiration in both her work
00:40:33 constant inspiration in both her work and her search for self understanding the profound value she placed on her Heritage and Faith was nothing short of inspiring we're always struck by kad's
00:40:46 inspiring we're always struck by kad's quiet ambition and Clarity of vision we had the privilege of watching her rise from a Shining Light of emerging to Talent who was
00:40:57 Light of emerging to Talent who was struggling to get her work into the world to a star freshly back from exhibiting in Venice at the crest of a wave of international success cadedra and Mary will always be
00:41:09 success cadedra and Mary will always be remembered as two beautiful souls the grace this Earth and touched the lives of all who knew them we feel proud and Incredibly blessed to have been close to
00:41:21 Incredibly blessed to have been close to the light that Shone so brightly on Kadija our dear your friends will be treasured in our hearts forever these are the words of David
00:41:37 ly now I don't have anything written down and uh I'm told that I've got the limited amount of time to talk here so what I'm going to say to you
00:41:51 here so what I'm going to say to you comes from the heart what has happened in grel Towers is a
00:41:59 is a disgrace it is disgusting there are no other words for it people's lives have been taken away from them generations of Hope
00:42:11 from them generations of Hope homes which people have invested their life
00:42:15 life in are
00:42:17 in are gone
00:42:19 gone this
00:42:22 this tall coughing in the air is perhaps the best way to describe it what's going to happen to it how long will it remain there as a timely
00:42:33 there as a timely reminder of man's inhumanity to man my cousin and indeed both kadijah and Mary are my cousins my cousin
00:42:45 and Mary are my cousins my cousin Mary was to my mind the epitomy of humility
00:42:51 humility loyalty somebody who had a smile that is best described as being a b of
00:43:09 reference well Ambrose we got an unexpected added part of your presentation there please don't feel in any way that you have to be inhibited in what you're going to tell us I know we
00:43:20 what you're going to tell us I know we meant to cut that for you a little earlier but what would you like to say I'll try and pick up from where I was on the
00:43:30 the film um yeah Mary indeed was a a ball of eff Essence um really a Boolean character but somebody who who was a legacy Builder a Heritage
00:43:43 legacy Builder a Heritage preserve great teaching great learning from her parents and indeed from my dad my sister Clary said earlier on that my dad was the person that brought Mary to
00:43:55 dad was the person that brought Mary to England
00:43:56 England and um my dad told me that I've got to find her a job so we worked happily alongside each other for about 18 months two
00:44:07 two years um I was one of the first persons that she told that she was pregnant um and to try to share that with you and that's what I really want
00:44:18 with you and that's what I really want to do here it's about celebration and because of the darkness of the tragedy of grel
00:44:29 darkness of the tragedy of grel towers celebration seems really awkward um and incorrect but in life one lives to to
00:44:42 lives to to achieve and when the finality of Life comes it has to be commemorated in a way and every life lived has something to
00:44:54 and every life lived has something to celebrate my dad came from a a tiny village in guine BAU in Northern guine BAU which lies just underneath Sagal and
00:45:05 BAU which lies just underneath Sagal and and The
00:45:07 and The Gambia he came from a tribe of people settled in an area called k k me in kungu and um these are the mjo peop for 400 years the Portuguese oppressors
00:45:19 400 years the Portuguese oppressors tried to
00:45:21 tried to suppress the natives of that country and they F miserably I'm glad to say and today everybody works alongside each other there is no there is no enemy
00:45:32 other there is no there is no enemy everybody works for Progress for the future for togetherness that comes through the building of community and the one fantastic thing that I see from kful
00:45:44 fantastic thing that I see from kful towers and I was bought born raised brought up in East London in acne the the one thing the magic thing is Comm
00:45:56 thing the magic thing is Comm immunity you know I'm 64 years of age my mom would send me I'm one of 11 kids go two doors down the road and borrow a couple of su cup of sugar there was nothing about
00:46:08 cup of sugar there was nothing about Pride or whatever you just needed it so you got it and and and you gave it back those were the days of Simplicity comparative Simplicity I try to
00:46:23 understand why and how Mary and Cadia came to be in the position that they were in and I can't and I
00:46:33 and I won't is beyond me but what I do know what is so important for us all to understand is that these were lives that were fulfilled there is a tremendous
00:46:45 were fulfilled there is a tremendous Legacy the Manifest impregnation of culture and Heritage it's almost like in a relay race you put your hand behind you you're given good service and you
00:46:57 you you're given good service and you carry on your stride and you you give to the person that's waiting for you that that's a job that's a duty when I talked to people that knew my
00:47:08 to people that knew my cousins because they too had family in grfa house he so uplifting he's so energizing I came in here today and people greeted me like I'm long lost
00:47:22 people greeted me like I'm long lost forgotten family and that's that's wonderful and as you know yourself when we sat down before we came in it this isn't a time for vitriol and and hatred it's a time to come together and and
00:47:35 it's a time to come together and and hold one another to hold in Embrace because we know we're going to go
00:47:42 go forward you know people who who are greater exponents of of Podium speaking than myself as recently as last Saturday were there for change different
00:47:55 Saturday were there for change different thinkings Paradigm shifts the words love and fire were found and used in a new context I sincerely hope that when that
00:48:09 context I sincerely hope that when that 70s soul song was sung at the wedding last
00:48:13 last weekend there's another one here the lined memories don't leave like people do they always stay with you whether they be good or bad there's something you once had I want to say to
00:48:27 something you once had I want to say to Mary and Cadia to all those who lost family and friends to all those who are gathered here today to try to make a change you
00:48:39 here today to try to make a change you are making a change a change has been made God bless you all thank [Music]
00:48:45 [Music] [Applause]
00:48:54 you
00:49:06 Clary come back and help me finish off your commemoration will you because I think we've got some more to see haven't
00:49:23 we i' just like to say um um I know there's not a Time Li limit here today but there are a few more things we have theal we have a piece of
00:49:36 things we have theal we have a piece of footage of some other relatives and my cousin deal will yet make his statement as well but as my brother embo said we are there is unity in the
00:49:48 said we are there is unity in the community and that's how we're going forward cuz that's what we're there for each other some days we're going to be weak but others in the community will
00:49:59 weak but others in the community will strengthen us and we will have our day of
00:50:02 of Glory thank you I think you're going to stand there with damal because dalal's going to come and tell us some things and I think please I think we're going to watch Eddie's clip first we're going
00:50:13 to watch Eddie's clip first we're going to watch Eddie's clip first before them out yes right let's watch Eddie's clip
00:50:22 then ready will you y whenever you're ready here to pay respect
00:50:31 to our cousin our
00:50:36 sister and our
00:50:41 niece ni cousin you know this is the first time I'm here look they're on here look
00:50:52 look I
00:50:54 I um go
00:51:21 smile when you're ready you tell me sit down
00:51:27 down yes Jesus
00:51:39 [Music]
00:51:54 Christ
00:51:57 you just Jesus
00:52:21 Christ see this not about us this is about the Dead
00:52:27 Jesus
00:52:38 Christ I'd now like to ask my cousin damal to join me at the podium for his
00:52:48 speech you're right standing there you're right standing yeah yeah otherwise there's a seat behind you no very good I'm good
00:52:57 greetings and good day to everybody here in this room today and everyone who will be seeing or hearing these uh Testaments and tributes that we're giving to our
00:53:09 and tributes that we're giving to our families my name is D Carol I come first and foremost in the name of humanity because when all the divisions that we
00:53:20 because when all the divisions that we have are put to one side just for one day give divisions a holiday just for one day
00:53:25 one day day when it comes to the crunch are we not all One race of people are we not the human race we're human and Humanity
00:53:36 the human race we're human and Humanity comes from being human secondly and foremost I come for immy of family for
00:53:48 foremost I come for immy of family for Mary meny and kadia say my cousin and my niece thirdly and foremostly I come today to give tribute also for everyone who's lost their souls all the
00:54:01 everyone who's lost their souls all the named people who's lost their souls from Grandfield toown the 14th of June 2017 while we're doing this you may have heard from my cousin Clary and also my
00:54:13 heard from my cousin Clary and also my cousin Ambrose that we're from the west coast west region of Africa I was born there in Gambia as was Mary Gambia and you have Sagle which is
00:54:26 Mary Gambia and you have Sagle which is WRA round Gambia we call Gambia The Smiling Coast because it's shaped like a smile because of a line drawn around the river that became Gambia and Sagal
00:54:37 river that became Gambia and Sagal surrounds
00:54:38 surrounds it guine BAU is also there with the lines drawn take away the lines you know you have one people different peoples that unlike the words tribes really because of some of
00:54:51 words tribes really because of some of the connotation that come up with tribes and tribalism so I prefer to say the people so there's different peoples different languages but the same amongst all those regions so as we he as I stand
00:55:04 all those regions so as we he as I stand here very very mindful of all our families in The Gambia in guine BAU in Sagal we are here physically on territory to do and say what we can on
00:55:17 territory to do and say what we can on their behalf they are not here physically but together we all you know we're here in our hearts and our minds you just saw my cousin Eddie who we call also called palum was the last clip that
00:55:30 also called palum was the last clip that you saw spoke to him about an hour ago and he's you know you you heard him anyway in those days when the flowers were fresh and plentiful as they still are
00:55:39 are today so
00:55:42 today so anyway I come to talk briefly just about what Mary did and what Kadija did so Mary in this later part of her life was
00:55:55 Mary in this later part of her life was a
00:55:57 a carer now it's a carer by nature and and by
00:56:02 by profession she's a giver and we're givers where where I come from and there's many other places on this Earth but I know my Gambia in Sagal we're givers by culture welcoming people
00:56:16 givers by culture welcoming people giving of your heart open hands with no suspicion of anything just to give when you think of a profession as a care maybe just oppose it with a few
00:56:27 care maybe just oppose it with a few other professions whichever architect or whatever you may be and somehow in our minds do we see a hierarchy of worth do
00:56:40 minds do we see a hierarchy of worth do we of what a carer is she's a carer what does that mean you're giving your time your energy yourself to people who are
00:56:51 yourself to people who are lonely people who may lose hope without your ear being there to listen to them without your heart being there daily ask the members of the community
00:57:03 daily ask the members of the community that Mary was a carer for with a Christian also Christian nature ask people like sister Ruth who never stopped singing the Praises of Mary kadijah also did care work as
00:57:15 kadijah also did care work as well ask them what care and a giver is that's what she did through her faith her belief her Christianity her culture
00:57:26 her belief her Christianity her culture okay kadia what does she do 14 years of age you're winning a scholarship to rugby this an exalted seat of
00:57:37 rugby this an exalted seat of learning so it shows you something about what her caliber is and it's
00:57:46 recognized and today Kadija will will say yes you are an artist believe it your work has been exhibited your work is your work has
00:57:59 exhibited your work is your work has been honored and exalted I went to see your picture of suu in the tape Britain exhibition where they honored you with a beautiful bunch of white roses and a
00:58:12 beautiful bunch of white roses and a plaque to honor everyone who passed away at grenfell you're being recognized you are an
00:58:19 are an artist art kind of runs in our family as it does from my point of view as an artist myself in every single one of us art is all around it's presented in many different
00:58:30 different ways it's a shame I feel that it's been undermined where it should be exalted because when we look at Great civilizations that have come and gone through all the years thousands of years
00:58:42 through all the years thousands of years what do they leave behind what do we have to look at to learn about people and how they live it's their art their drawings their paintings their
00:58:53 drawings their paintings their sculptures there pots with designs on it artifacts this is what we look at and learn from that's what Kadija did and she's left behind unfortunately but the fact is it's here
00:59:07 unfortunately but the fact is it's here so with
00:59:09 myself after this fire um happened in the 14th by the 16th I'd kind of had enough in the morning from speaking to family you heard from Adelaide who was a daughter
00:59:21 heard from Adelaide who was a daughter of Eddie the last uh relative who spoke you heard a eulogy at the church she was going from hospital to hospital Edward's brother Gabriel who is
00:59:34 hospital Edward's brother Gabriel who is probably my closest relative whenever I go to Gambia the two of us are just like this Partners in good crime having fun having
00:59:43 having excitement he can't be here today so when i' his wife was here uh Gabriel at the time when it happened she
00:59:54 Gabriel at the time when it happened she was about to go back on the Friday the Wednesday after so myself and her were talking back and forth the rest of the family waiting looking at news listening to radio and taking in so much waiting for news what's happened to them by the
01:00:06 for news what's happened to them by the Friday morning I'd had enough I'd been doing a Year's project of of painting after leaving my 95 full-time job I could finally fully express myself in
01:00:19 could finally fully express myself in art I've been doing music for so many years now is the time for did to finish a year project put all my paints down canvas is down grf happen by that Friday morning I just couldn't take anymore one
01:00:32 morning I just couldn't take anymore one canvas was left there one big canvas was was left sitting there I had something else in mind for it for the first time I've drawn grid lines on this on this plain canvas I haven't worked with grid
01:00:44 plain canvas I haven't worked with grid lines before what happened grid lines were used to do a painting of of the tower a pure outpouring of my depth of feeling you can imagine what that feeling was I'd
01:00:57 can imagine what that feeling was I'd spent maybe 2 3 months doing a portrait of Marvin Gay before 5 6 hours I just poured everything I had into into this painting and doing it it taught me one
01:01:08 painting and doing it it taught me one thing or reminded me of one thing which is no matter how angry you are or the depth of expression you still have to have a degree of measure in what you do for I had to stop and measure the flaws
01:01:22 for I had to stop and measure the flaws and and count things which I didn't want to do I just want to throw the pains on there this I hope will carry me and yourself and all of us through with our depth of feeling we still need to stop
01:01:34 depth of feeling we still need to stop and measure what are we looking for the outcome of all this on behalf of our family so I did this painting and I would like I would like to present
01:01:46 would like I would like to present yourself so Martin with a with a copy of it thank you very much I'm going to come around so that I can take it from you
01:01:58 uh this is called I saw the final straw I've written a message on there to uh to you sir Martin if I may read it with your permission do yes right it says to
01:02:09 your permission do yes right it says to Sir Martin moreck work until truth is laid be to quote your word sir from me there's abbreviation marks around it so do it for Humanity do it led by love
01:02:24 so do it for Humanity do it led by love and assigned myself by myself D family and grandford community so this is just to a gift to yourself and whoever just to keep in four mons of our minds what
01:02:36 to keep in four mons of our minds what we really here for you know is we are here for each other for Humanity so if we don't care take our Eye Off the Ball something like this could happen so it comes from a good place and thank you to
01:02:48 comes from a good place and thank you to everybody for for [Applause] listening
01:02:55 listening [Applause] [Music]
01:03:05 [Music] [Applause] [Music]
01:03:16 the mer thank you very much for your copy of a very fine work with personal observations attached and I'm very pleased to accept it on behalf of myself but more particularly on behalf of my
01:03:28 but more particularly on behalf of my whole inquiry team and as I have said more than once we shall work until the truth is laid be thank you very much
01:03:39 indeed can I leave it here for to come look take it
01:03:46 away I'm going to leave this uh up by the stage here because I gather that some of you might like to come and have a look at it and then it will will go back to the inquiry team's headquarters
01:03:57 back to the inquiry team's headquarters and we shall hang it somewhere to remind us all of what this is all about thank you very
01:04:01 you very [Applause] [Music]
01:04:11 much well um last but not least I cannot leave here today without saying thank you to the
01:04:22 you to the community thank you for all the support Countrywide thank you to the survivors I pray their life gets better every minute of the day and we have
01:04:34 of the day and we have closure all I can say is God bless us all in this struggle we just keep the faith and pray that the inquiry panel members do the right thing
01:04:47 inquiry panel members do the right thing amen and God bless everybody thank [Music]
01:04:53 [Music] you
01:05:00 so as You rightly observe I know there are a number of people who not only want to look at that fine piece of work but also take some photographs we've also been listening to quite a
01:05:11 been listening to quite a detailed commemoration so I'm going to ask for 10 minutes if I may please so people can stretch their legs and then we will turn to the cucher family thank
01:05:22 we will turn to the cucher family thank you thank you yes well we'll have a 10-minute break thank you very
01:05:53 much
01:20:51 so one of the things I've been doing during the break is to speak to those who
01:20:57 who are assisting us and the amazing piece of work that's been handed to you is going to be on display for the rest of these commemoration
01:21:09 for the rest of these commemoration hearings in the hall we're just finding an appropriate easel I'm no good at those sort of things I'm afraid someone else will have to provide it and it will be on display somewhere for anyone who wants to see it
01:21:21 somewhere for anyone who wants to see it to remind us of everything that was said thank
01:21:25 thank you I don't know why I mispronounced it I'm terribly sorry but if of course we're now going to commemorations for the Shakir family and of course there are six
01:21:37 family and of course there are six members of that family from Flats 193 nardia bassm Mana Fatima and zanab and Syria in flat
01:21:49 Syria in flat 91 the person standing ready at the lecturn is Hisham hisam hisam thank you for coming and waiting now before we
01:22:00 for coming and waiting now before we start we know there's a still which is going to be behind you for the
01:22:06 presentation before we start would you like to introduce who's on the stage with you um my sister Salon Shak uh Albert who's her
01:22:17 Albert who's her solicor um Daniel and Sam thank you very much yes my name is ham
01:22:28 thank you very much yes my name is ham Shak I lost my mother sria who was 60 my youngest sister Nadia shik who was
01:22:39 shik who was 33 her husband Bim was also my cousin and was
01:22:45 and was 40 and three children my nieces Mina who was 13 fat Fatima who was 11 and zanab
01:22:56 was 13 fat Fatima who was 11 and zanab who was only 3 years
01:22:59 old my mother and my sister saan who is also addressing you through her solicitor lived in flat 1 191 on the
01:23:11 solicitor lived in flat 1 191 on the 22nd floor of the tower
01:23:15 tower opposite right near flat 1 193 on the same
01:23:21 same Landing where my sister Nadia lived with her husband and children all who perished in the
01:23:33 children all who perished in the fire my mother was born in Lebanon and came to this country in the early 70s when she was 17 to be with my father who was able to
01:23:47 17 to be with my father who was able to sponsor her coming to the country through his work they were married and made a home in redcliff
01:23:58 redcliff gardens in the Els area in the south of the royal burrow of Kensington and Chelsea where they
01:24:10 Chelsea where they brought up my older brother Nabil saan myself and Nadia as soon as my mother arrived because she'd not been able to
01:24:23 arrived because she'd not been able to have an education in Lebanon she registered at a college in fulam where she leared to speak
01:24:34 she leared to speak English both my parents worked all their lives in the food industry my dad was a waiter in a restaurant called Omar kayam near oxa
01:24:48 restaurant called Omar kayam near oxa Street which was very well known in the 1970s
01:24:53 1970s where his speciality Was preparing Turkish
01:24:56 Turkish coffee a skill he became so famous for he would be asked to do this at private events and
01:25:07 parties soon after starting a family my mother started work at the Royal maren Hospital in the catering
01:25:18 Hospital in the catering department where she stayed for the rest of her working life she loved her job very much she was devoted to her supervisor who was also known as ply and
01:25:32 supervisor who was also known as ply and also lived in gemfield Tower and sadly lost her life a few months after the
01:25:42 fire py just lived a few floors away but even though even sorry even before my mother moved to Grandfield Tower ply and my mother grew very
01:25:55 my mother grew very close my mother was a very fastidious woman she took her job extremely seriously and her relationship with py
01:26:07 seriously and her relationship with py was also very important to
01:26:11 her she was an excellent cook making both English and Lebanese dishes When We Were Young she would get up extremely
01:26:22 up extremely early every morning and before everyone anyone else was awake she'd make brilliant dishes from scratch humus
01:26:33 brilliant dishes from scratch humus tabuli rice and chicken pizza my favorite was Kula which is Arabic corette stuffed with rice and yogurt in
01:26:44 corette stuffed with rice and yogurt in a mint
01:26:47 sauce not sour like a British corette it is sweet and light green so every day we'd wake up to the smell of
01:26:58 every day we'd wake up to the smell of the delicious cooking and by the time we were up and she was ready to go to work she'd prepared all the food for the
01:27:09 she'd prepared all the food for the day she'd work a full shift at the at the hospital and when she came home she did the housework no one worked harder
01:27:20 did the housework no one worked harder harder or cared for their children
01:27:27 more although she was quite a quiet person herself but she loved for us to mix and meet other people she would take us on outings with
01:27:41 people she would take us on outings with friends to Trafalga square and Parks across
01:27:46 across London every Sunday we'd have lunch with our Christian friends and we'd always have Christmas dinner with them even though we don't celebrate
01:27:58 with them even though we don't celebrate Christmas she used to put up a Christmas tree and we'd all look forward to giving each other presents she had come to this country as
01:28:09 presents she had come to this country as a stranger at a very young age yet she was determined to give us everything she sacrificed everything for
01:28:22 everything she sacrificed everything for us so we could prosper and be a proper part of the country she'd adopted as her
01:28:36 home because she had not been able to go to school
01:28:42 to school herself education was very important to her both my parents deliberately worked extremely hard so they could send all of us to a
01:28:55 so they could send all of us to a private
01:28:56 private school obviously with a family of four children it was a considerable expense not only the fees but the other
01:29:08 not only the fees but the other costs and the coaches to get us there but because she had not had the opportunity she wanted it for
01:29:20 opportunity she wanted it for us she wanted us us to be able to have what she didn't have so we could
01:29:34 look sorry uh and wanted us to be able to look after ourselves so we couldn't look after them in turn as they got older which is traditional in our
01:29:47 older which is traditional in our culture but that is something now I will never be able to do
01:29:55 she was kind and loving and patient and Incredibly resilient she brought us up to work hard
01:30:07 resilient she brought us up to work hard to be considerate to others to be kind to respect other people and other cultures she worked hard and lived
01:30:19 cultures she worked hard and lived modestly to give us the chance to thrive at one point when I just got married Nabil and his wife Nadia and
01:30:31 married Nabil and his wife Nadia and bassim and me and my wife were all living with my mom in bliff gardens family was everything to us and she did everything she
01:30:43 she did everything she could to give us the best start in life 13 years ago my father passed
01:30:54 life 13 years ago my father passed away when he was just
01:31:09 52 that's okay this was a huge strain on my
01:31:15 my mother she started to De develop severe arthritis when eventually made it impossible for her to continue
01:31:26 made it impossible for her to continue working Nadia and Basim moved to Flat 1 193 in granfield Tower and started to raise their own family after a while it became possible
01:31:40 family after a while it became possible for my mother to swap her flat in order to live near to them in flat
01:31:50 191 being next door to her daughter and her grandchildren was a great pleasure for her she was able to support Nadia and Bim by looking after her
01:32:03 and Bim by looking after her grandchildren as both Nadia and Bim worked extremely hard themselves eventually her aritis made it impossible for her to
01:32:16 aritis made it impossible for her to work but she was able to care fulltime for zanab
01:32:22 for zanab when Nadia was at work as a nursery teacher at Evendale
01:32:29 school she looked after zanab like she was her own she was not just a grandmother she was also a mother to the
01:32:40 kids she kept the flat Immaculate the whole place felt spacious and uncluttered she felt safe being so close
01:32:53 uncluttered she felt safe being so close to saan bassim and Nadia we were all Inseparable we would live together and go on holiday
01:33:06 together she went to Lebanon every year the son helped her relieve the pain from her medical condition my mom was a proud woman a
01:33:19 condition my mom was a proud woman a devout woman whose life was family and work who never said a bad word about
01:33:32 anybody she lived her life for others despite the hardships she suffered she was kind and
01:33:43 suffered she was kind and caring and I will miss her
01:33:50 forever
01:34:00 my sister Nadia was the youngest of
01:34:13 us when she was born we all used to fight over her who bathed her who fed her
01:34:22 her she was just so cute so
01:34:28 adorable you just wanted to kiss her suffocate her with kisses and
01:34:35 cuddles we all loved Nadia she was
01:34:42 beautiful but she was also wise she had my mother's resilience but she would speak her mind she was a
01:34:53 she was a fighter she would always stand up for her
01:34:58 her rights always knew the difference of right from
01:35:07 wrong and she inherited my parents work ethic from being a teenager she knew she wanted to work with
01:35:18 wanted to work with children after moving into the tower she started work at Evendale school which is very close to Grandfield Tower Nadia was loved by the parents and
01:35:33 Tower Nadia was loved by the parents and teachers as well as the kids because my mother was able to look after my nieces Nadia was able to work right through bringing up her
01:35:49 family Nadia loved to swim she was a great
01:35:54 great swimmer and was registered at the gym but she was a great socializer so many people love Nadia since the fire happened I've just
01:36:06 Nadia since the fire happened I've just been amazed how many people have come up to say that they were connected to Nadia and how much they loved
01:36:17 much they loved her she touched many lives Nadia was very close to a lady called Helen and her daughter lulia Julia sorry
01:36:29 Helen and her daughter lulia Julia sorry who lived on the 21st floor Julia became part of the family Helen and Julia were always
01:36:42 there both Basim and Nadia worked incredibly hard Bim got up at 4:00 every morning and cycled to
01:36:55 work he worked as a supervisor at marks and Spencer he was incredibly conscientious conscientious
01:37:06 conscientious conscientious conscientious conscientious sorry thank you even when he was at home he was always texting people telling them what to
01:37:18 do he never took a single day off work in the whole time he worked there he was an excellent father kind
01:37:29 an excellent father kind loving considerate always wanted the best for his children he didn't care how hard he had to work he just wanted to provide everything for
01:37:41 everything for them from the moment he came to this country all he wanted was to look after and protect his family
01:37:52 and protect his family because I met my wife at the same time as naria and bassim got together when we were all in Lebanon I got to know bassim
01:38:03 were all in Lebanon I got to know bassim very
01:38:03 very well we'd walk around the village as a foram going to cafeterias walking together in the countryside so I became very close to
01:38:16 countryside so I became very close to Bam really as soon as he became part of our close
01:38:23 family with my mom and saon living next door they were always in and out of each other's
01:38:32 other's Flats especially the kids my mom would often be passing on dishes sometimes they'd all eat together
01:38:44 dishes sometimes they'd all eat together often my mom picked up zanab from nursery and zanab would stay over with with her Nadia loved the area around
01:38:55 with her Nadia loved the area around gemville she was very popular with everyone she knew so many people through looking after their
01:39:08 children they were proud of where they lived but that all changed with the refurbishment she had so many problems
01:39:19 refurbishment she had so many problems with the contractors so much trouble with the
01:39:24 with the council there were many times when the lift broke down which was terrible for my
01:39:31 my mother it made it virtually impossible for her to leave the building I was never happy with the building I always had a bad feeling
01:39:42 building I always had a bad feeling about
01:39:43 about it Nadia and bassim tried to buy their Flats they saved the deposit but no bank would give them a mortgage as they
01:39:58 would give them a mortgage as they soon as soon as they found out they were on the 22nd floor this led me to believe that the banks were aware of something within
01:40:09 banks were aware of something within high-rise social housing that we were not aware
01:40:16 of I live very close to the Tower and my own children now seven and five were inseparable
01:40:27 inseparable Inseparable from their cousins they were almost like brothers and
01:40:34 and sisters Nadia and bassim stepped in several times looking after my own children when I had to be their primary
01:40:45 children when I had to be their primary carer my children loved their cousins and Auntie and Uncle and Teta as they called my
01:40:57 mother they were staying at the flat with my mom and Salan until the night before the fire because my wife was in hospital I came to collect them the day
01:41:10 hospital I came to collect them the day before the 13th of June 2017 so they could be home when my wife was due out of hospital so I saw them all for the last
01:41:23 hospital so I saw them all for the last time as I collected my children from my mother I went to see everyone but Nadia was asleep I remember zanab had a bad
01:41:36 was asleep I remember zanab had a bad headache Mina and Fatima opened the door and I talked to both of them and bassim but then left because I was very
01:41:49 tired if my my wife hadn't been due out of hospital my children would be dead
01:42:01 too my niece Mina was their oldest child she had been at avendelle but had moved on to Kensington Aldridge Academy
01:42:14 moved on to Kensington Aldridge Academy for her secondary school she loved Sports and music Arabic music pop music she was
01:42:25 music pop music she was artistic she Drew at a very early age she loved School loved
01:42:33 learning she was very focused but in a very relaxed manner she had an excellent sense of humor probably more so than her sisters
01:42:45 humor probably more so than her sisters she wanted to be either a doctor or a lawyer the last time I talked with her about it she couldn't
01:42:59 decide on the night of the fire I received a call at around 2:20 my brother rang me and told me to put on the TV I couldn't believe
01:43:14 it I couldn't leave the children alone so I got them up and ran down there immediately with them in their
01:43:25 in their Prem I found the building completely engulfed in flames saan had tried to call them but
01:43:36 flames saan had tried to call them but by this time there was no signal the phone was just ringing and ringing and we had to stand there for hours
01:43:47 hours helpless watching them all burn to death
01:43:56 it was five months before we were able to bury
01:44:00 to bury them my brother made the arrangements and we took them to nah the village where all our family are from it was my mother's wish to be
01:44:13 from it was my mother's wish to be buried next to my father who had died when she was in Lebanon so now they are buried together my
01:44:22 my [Music]
01:44:24 [Music] mom Nadia bassim aminaa Fatima and zanab on a little slope in a remote country Cemetery not
01:44:35 slope in a remote country Cemetery not like cemeteries here it's more like a garden of
01:44:41 peace my grandmother my mom's brother my mom's mother sorry is still alive but she lives in a village and is unable to get
01:44:52 get about unable to visit the grave of her daughter
01:44:58 daughter granddaughter and three great grandchildren she's not coping very
01:45:07 well I'm telling you all of this these are my memories these are the facts but I have not been able to
01:45:18 I have not been able to grieve it has just been one thing after another in one night I have lost half of my family I feel like a stranger
01:45:32 my family I feel like a stranger now it has destroyed everything I feel like part of me has been taken
01:45:43 been taken away when I go past and look at the tower I have
01:45:54 flashbacks I know they are just pictures in my
01:45:57 in my head but I can actually see people behind those
01:46:07 windows dying trying to get out so I keep busy occupying myself with this but I know it will not be until it
01:46:21 this but I know it will not be until it all stops that you'll see the damage this is just the
01:46:28 start it has already ruined many
01:46:34 lives my wife has been very badly affected my children my sister saan my grandmother alone in Lebanon who was
01:46:45 grandmother alone in Lebanon who was already very frail frail is very deeply affected
01:46:51 affected the difficulties have caused huge upset within our remaining family this Inferno has split up families and
01:47:03 Inferno has split up families and smashed up their
01:47:07 lives none of the counseling I receive can ever repair what has already been done I have to live with my family
01:47:19 done I have to live with my family ripped of part for the rest of my life I don't see this as a tragedy I see it as an
01:47:30 tragedy I see it as an atrocity because essentially there is segregation between the rich and the poor I think they call it a postcode
01:47:44 Lottery but I'm here to remember six lives
01:47:52 how can you sum up six lives in such a short space of time so close to them passing they were ordinary
01:48:03 passing they were ordinary people but they were also extraordinary people they were my family and they should still be
01:48:16 here the prophet Muhammad please be upon him
01:48:21 him whenever he was surrounded by a coalition or Army he
01:48:30 recited which means Allah alone is sufficient for us and what an excellent Guardian he is he is the best
01:48:43 Guardian he is he is the best disposer of
01:48:49 Affairs
01:48:52 [Applause]
01:49:08 [Applause] now Albert I think thank you very much for that we'll just take a second or two and let everybody catch their
01:49:19 breath
01:49:23 now Albert I think the position is that Salon is here with you but doesn't feel strong enough to deliver her commemoration and has asked you to do it
01:49:34 commemoration and has asked you to do it on her behalf and we quite understand that as
01:49:39 that as well yes
01:49:42 well yes please I've got to know Salon over the last few months um I've become very close friends with her and it's an honor to read this on behalf of you and your
01:49:57 family I lived at flat 1 191 on the 22nd floor of granfield Tower with my mom Sira Shala who had lived there several years on the same floor just across from
01:50:09 years on the same floor just across from our flat in 93 lived my sister nardia her husband bassim and their three children Mina aged 13 Fatima aged 11
01:50:22 children Mina aged 13 Fatima aged 11 zanab aged three all of the members of my family living in grenfall Tower died in that fire my sister and her husband have been
01:50:33 fire my sister and her husband have been living in the town for quite a long time for over 11 years when it became possible for my mom to move into the flat near to my sister I moved in with my mom who was suffering from acute arthrits so that I could support her we
01:50:46 arthrits so that I could support her we exchanged from we exchanged a much bigger flat so we could move into the tower to be near nardia and her family it meant that my mom and I were sharing a one-bedroom flat I was never happy
01:50:57 a one-bedroom flat I was never happy there myself um but my mother loved being close to nardia and her grandchildren the flat had a beautiful view my mom loved watching the fireworks
01:51:09 view my mom loved watching the fireworks she took pleasure in simple things she loved her coffee in the morning Arabic coffee with just a little bit of sugar she loved watching Indian films
01:51:20 she loved watching Indian films and Indian films and Turkish films I bought her a really big television which we put up on the wall she loved her food and she was a brilliant cook of course
01:51:31 and she was a brilliant cook of course she missed the good weather back in Lebanon where she grew her own vegetables but she had a huge tomato plant we kept in the kitchen and on the kitchen table that went all the way to
01:51:43 kitchen table that went all the way to the
01:51:47 ceiling she loved flowers and and we would bring flowers to her home from work even though she spoke good English she would speak Arabic at home her arthritis made it difficult for her to
01:51:59 arthritis made it difficult for her to travel to the mosque but she prayed five times a day my mom had come to this country when she was young she had a very hard life she had worked her entire life she got up early When We Were Young
01:52:11 life she got up early When We Were Young made food for us went to work came home and then looked after us she was an extremely hard worker but she never complained she did not gossip
01:52:22 she never complained she did not gossip or have bad words to say about people you could trust her with anything you said she was dedicated to her job at the Royal Martin Hospital and I used to work
01:52:33 Royal Martin Hospital and I used to work there myself when I was young during the school holidays and got to know ply who also died in the at the beginning of this
01:52:42 this year my mom loved py and py loved my mom py was the best manager I've ever known in my life and they both got on brilliantly although my mom could not read or write ply knew 100% that what my
01:52:56 read or write ply knew 100% that what my mom would do would be perfect although she was my mom's boss ply was so caring she knew her workers and cared for them and she looked after them and
01:53:07 for them and she looked after them and my mom cared for ply in return my parents had come from Lebanon to make a better life in London to work hard my mom was young and had enormous
01:53:18 hard my mom was young and had enormous had an enormous amount of responsibility my dad worked night shifts but she worked through the day so it was a hard life for both of them they did so that we could
01:53:28 we could Thrive what was important to my mom was her family and bringing us up to understand the importance of respect respect for others and respect for
01:53:39 respect for others and respect for ourselves it is something that was drilled into us by our mom all of us by our mom the death of my father was hard on my mom her health deteriorated and she EV eventually had to walk with a
01:53:50 she EV eventually had to walk with a stick she'd been suffering for many years but she got on with her life being close to nardia and me was very important to her she had a very close relationship with all her family but she
01:54:02 relationship with all her family but she was particularly close to Zab helping to bring her up my mom would look after little Zab every day so nardia could go to
01:54:10 to work because of Nadia's long hours they spent a great deal of time together she loved her a bits we all loved Zab when I would come back from work zanab was so happy to see me we were
01:54:23 zanab was so happy to see me we were just all so close we would knock on each other's doors all the time we would eat together watch movies together we sat in the park together I would take the girls out shopping especially during the sales
01:54:36 out shopping especially during the sales I just love to spend money on them and to spoil them I remember one day when the sales were on we got up early at 5:00 in the morning and I took mea and Fatima and we went shopping all all
01:54:48 Fatima and we went shopping all all morning and all after afternoon buying clothes when I came home my sister said wow why did you spend all that money yet I did not care about money I have no
01:55:00 I did not care about money I have no Daughters of my own so money was not the issue for me I wanted them to have the things because I loved them and because as little girls they really loved clothes often I would come home and my H
01:55:11 clothes often I would come home and my H would and one of her friends would have been in my room trying on shoes I used to have loads of shoes and bags so when I would come back they would be trying them on taking pictures
01:55:23 would be trying them on taking pictures putting them on Snapchat and social media I was very close to all the girls Zab would often stay with us she would say that she would want to sleep with me but I'd explain to her that I wouldn't
01:55:34 but I'd explain to her that I wouldn't want to wake her up when I had to get up for work she just wanted to be there with us so I would let her sleep with me sometimes and she slept like an
01:55:44 angel the older girls um were brilliant at school they hard work working and conscientious pupils my owner was excellent academically she wanted to be a
01:55:55 a lawyer they were very confident kids just like my mom and they were able to stand up for themselves Fatima was a great gymnast she had the body for it and wanted to become a professional gymnast when she grew up they were the
01:56:08 gymnast when she grew up they were the very best behaved children I've ever seen they never raised their voices not because their parents were strict but because they had good behavior instilled
01:56:19 because they had good behavior instilled in them from an early age that is just how we grew up with our parents knowing right from wrong and how to respect other people I guess that is what nard had learned from our
01:56:30 what nard had learned from our parents nardia was my little sister when she was a child all of us fought to hold her she was beautiful just like a doll just so cuddly and cute she was the most
01:56:41 just so cuddly and cute she was the most photogenic person but now I have no original photos of her no photos of my mom my dad and my sister everything was burnt in the fire the photo albums we
01:56:52 burnt in the fire the photo albums we had the pictures on my iPad everything is just
01:56:56 is just gone to make the film for the inquiry we even had to go to the school to try and find pictures of the children it was all taken away from us in the fire not just of one person but everything from my
01:57:07 of one person but everything from my whole
01:57:08 whole family like my mom nardia was a hardworking person she was very caring towards her children towards her husband whom she loved dearly she loved mixing
01:57:19 whom she loved dearly she loved mixing with with people she loved looking after other people's children children she knew so many people in Greenfield Tower and in the neighborhood because she cared for
01:57:29 cared for others her friend Helen and Helen's daughter lulia both became part of our family bassim like a second dad to lulia my own loved lulia as did Fatima even
01:57:40 my own loved lulia as did Fatima even Zab loved
01:57:41 Zab loved lulia nardia met bassim in Lebanon he came and asked her hand and they were for her hand and they were married and he came to join her in Britain basson
01:57:53 he came to join her in Britain basson was extremely hardworking he did not care what he did as long as it was putting food on the table for his family what he cared about was his family they were his complete
01:58:04 were his complete priority I remember that I remember that he was working in restaurants for terrible pay so I spoke to my managers and got him a job where I worked in marks and Spencer he was very very good
01:58:15 marks and Spencer he was very very good at his job soon he became soon he was promoted until he eventually became the section coordinator he was brilliant at his
01:58:23 his work everybody was terrified of him at work because he was so strict but at home he was the opposite he he was always loving and caring because we work together we would
01:58:36 caring because we work together we would both get up and go out of gr out of grenfell early most days sometimes as early as 4:00 a.m. Bassam would always cycle to work but I prefer to take the
01:58:47 cycle to work but I prefer to take the bus he was always trying to pers Ade me to get on a bike but I would tell him I was scared of the road he would reply come behind me you'll be all right we were really close we were best friends
01:59:00 were really close we were best friends as well as relatives we used to laugh together at work we were like Tom and Jerry the other managers would say would be saying what are those two playing at we were inseparable for me he made work
01:59:13 fun but he was also very caring I have had health issues and was always looked after me and looked out for
01:59:23 me even when I called him when even when I called him during the fire his first thoughts were to reassure me he told me everything was all right even though he was trapped with my family in a burning
01:59:35 was trapped with my family in a burning building Pastor bassam's job was taking care of fire safety he had his certificates for training courses no one took his job more seriously than bassim
01:59:46 took his job more seriously than bassim if only he'd been in charge of fire safety at granfield Tower Lebanon was very important to the family we would visit there often un unable to buy their own home home at the tower
01:59:58 buy their own home home at the tower Basim and nardia used their savings to build a house in Lebanon in the village where we all came from they built the house themselves they ped all the money into it Bassam literally built it with
02:00:09 into it Bassam literally built it with his own hands during the holidays Nadia helped fit the floor they sent pictures to
02:00:15 to us as it was being constructed it was ready apart from the furniture it was beautiful but in the end because of the fire they never got to stay a single night in there
02:00:29 to stay a single night in there everything has been taken away from me my mom my sister the brother-in-law that I worked with every day and my little nieces who I loved like they were my own children it has been impossible to go
02:00:41 children it has been impossible to go back to work my memories are too strong we were all very very close to one another I loved them they were all amazing people it is almost impossible
02:00:52 amazing people it is almost impossible to believe that this tragedy has fallen on our family even now sometimes I think they're still here but then I remember the truth and I realize that they're all gone from me it has just destroyed us
02:01:03 gone from me it has just destroyed us I've lost my family I've lost everything I own I've lost all the photos all the momentos all the physical evidence that the people I loved ever existed
02:01:14 the people I loved ever existed everything everything has been taken away from me and I have had to start from again from scr R even now I think of things I suddenly realize no that's all
02:01:25 all gone it was all consumed by the fire I try really hard to remember everything to try and record in my mind what things were like before the fire but it is hard as things and people are just not there
02:01:37 as things and people are just not there anymore putting together even the basic memories for this has been difficult because the fire has destroyed our minds as well as our loved ones it is impossible to do this as my memory has
02:01:48 impossible to do this as my memory has gone completely completely it is impossible to put anything clearly together anymore that is what this tragedy has has done I am sorry but I cannot put anything together anymore how is it possible to sum up all these lives
02:02:01 is it possible to sum up all these lives the lives of so many people in a family who have been taken away from us how can I explain to you the love and the affection I feel for these people to present to you an image of their
02:02:13 present to you an image of their shortened lives especially when I myself am destroyed inside I and the other families only asked for justice this should not have happened but it did
02:02:25 should not have happened but it did there are reasons why my family died and the inquiry has a duty to uncover them what we do not want is excuses you cannot let people get away with such an
02:02:36 cannot let people get away with such an atrocity we need in fact we demand Justice for every single family I would not want anyone to go through and suffer what my family has had to suffer many many lives have been wrecked and
02:02:48 many lives have been wrecked and completely destroyed we are broken I said before that my mom taught us respect in turn the way to respect my beautiful mom who lost a life in the fire along with all the other
02:02:59 in the fire along with all the other beautiful people who died in the disaster is by ensuring that they all receive Justice nothing more and nothing less things must change or our loss and
02:03:10 less things must change or our loss and our suffering will have been in vain and this will happen again and again and again thank
02:03:17 you [Music]
02:03:28 [Music]
02:03:34 so there's also now a film so I'm going to ask that the lights are turned down so that we can watch
02:03:47 it go in and we know they're trapped and like you can just see little kids you can see little kids yeah with their with their hands on the windows and crying for help
02:03:58 hands on the windows and crying for help as the Flames are getting to them look look look there's someone in the top with his shining his leg oh my SOS SOS St on the 23d
02:04:09 my SOS SOS St on the 23d floor
02:04:12 floor hello there's too many people stuck upstairs oh my God they're screaming oh my
02:04:21 my [Music]
02:04:28 [Music] God my name is Salan CH I live in 1 191 with my mom my sister lived in
02:04:39 191 with my mom my sister lived in 193 I want this on a memory lost my loved ones my mom my sister my cousin my nieces everyone
02:04:55 yeah this is my mom Seria share and this is the whole family that died my mom Siria share Nadia Fatima Zab
02:05:07 died my mom Siria share Nadia Fatima Zab Mina
02:05:09 Mina B I just wanted to put the pictures of the people that died in the tower basically I didn't want no one else you know my mom Sia she's a lovely person very kind very generous very
02:05:23 very kind very generous very caring she taught herself how to read like you know when she used to go to the job I don't know how she did it but it's amazing how she did it bless her she
02:05:36 amazing how she did it bless her she always do a cook for us you know work cook and go to work come back Feed Us clo us
02:05:44 clo us everything she was just an all-in-one mom a mom that raised her daughter's children as if they were her own
02:05:56 children as if they were her own children my mom was very protective over us um even when we were in the wrong um especially with our dad
02:06:07 wrong um especially with our dad [Music]
02:06:08 [Music] um I think she became probably more independent when my dad had died um which is understandable um a very proud
02:06:19 which is understandable um a very proud person um doesn't really wish to rely on anybody my mom really did work hard in her
02:06:28 her life gave us the love gave us the support the patience and basically prepared us um to what we have to face in terms
02:06:40 us um to what we have to face in terms of you know during our life she really has prepared us and we're grateful to her for that this is my my sister and the family all
02:06:51 this is my my sister and the family all of them together out Nadia was my youngest sister when Nadia was born um we used to always fight over her um about who would' feed
02:07:04 fight over her um about who would' feed her who would um carry her who would she sleep next to um she was like a munchkin you know we were like fighting for her just to like feed her or
02:07:17 for her just to like feed her or something or hold you
02:07:20 you know that was when she was young you know and then as she got old and everything uh me and my sister were very close you know very close you know she
02:07:31 close you know very close you know she would tell me a lot of things you know secrets and
02:07:38 everything this is Bon again on the day of his wedding we were all together so the fact that we got engaged together
02:07:50 so the fact that we got engaged together roughly about the same time um being with them and you know going out with them that was quite special we used to walk behind each other when we used
02:08:04 to the reason why the film stopped is for some reason this strobe lighting is going mad and it's actually causing difficulties and so I don't want
02:08:16 difficulties and so I don't want possible to get the lighting fixed quickly I'm going to see that it's fixed quickly I'm also aware that some people needed to leave the room I'm sorry that the warning which was supposed to be put
02:08:28 the warning which was supposed to be put out for this film didn't get put out so can we just take a moment I'll start the film from a sensible place so that everyone can see it but at the moment until the lights are under control it's
02:08:39 until the lights are under control it's incredibly distracting for everybody not least the people trying to watch it from the
02:08:45 the stage may I just have two minutes to get this s sorted out of
02:08:56 course there is apparently a difficulty I wonder if you just rise for a moment yes certainly
02:09:17 right
02:39:04 so I think you know everything there is to know as to what's happened yes now are we going to pick up the film what we've done is we've we've placed the film at a position where there are are
02:39:15 film at a position where there are are no images of any fire or anything of that sort and we're playing the rest of the film and I'm assured that there are no other images within that film which will concern people I've also checked
02:39:28 will concern people I've also checked can I say with the people who provided the next film and again I'm writing my note that there is nothing in that film about which further warning will be given all right I'm sorry about that
02:39:39 given all right I'm sorry about that Interruption uh I hope you're all content that we picked the film up again at the point where M Mr Richmond indicated you happy with that yes all right thank
02:40:00 you come back Feed Us clo us everything she was just an all-in-one mom a mom that raised her daughter's
02:40:13 mom a mom that raised her daughter's children as if they were her own children my mom was very protective over us um even when we were in the wrong um especially with our dad
02:40:28 wrong um especially with our dad um I think she became probably more independent when my dad had died um which is understandable um a very proud
02:40:39 which is understandable um a very proud person um doesn't really wish to rely on anybody my mom really did work hard in her
02:40:48 her life gave us the love gave us the support the patience and basically prepared us um to what we have to face in terms
02:41:00 us um to what we have to face in terms of you know during our life she really has prepared us and we're grateful to her for
02:41:08 her for that this is my my sister and the family all of them together out Nadia was my youngest sister when Nadia was born
02:41:19 my youngest sister when Nadia was born um we used to always fight over her um about who would feed her who would um carry her who would she sleep next to um
02:41:31 carry her who would she sleep next to um she was like a munchkin you know we were like fighting for her just to like feed her or something or hold her you know that was when she was young you
02:41:42 know that was when she was young you know and then as she got older and everything uh me and my sister were very close you know very close you know she would tell me a lot of things you know
02:41:53 would tell me a lot of things you know secrets and
02:41:58 everything this is B again on the day of his wedding well we were all together so the fact that we got engaged together
02:42:10 so the fact that we got engaged together roughly about the same time um being with them and you know going out with them that was quite special we used to walk behind each other when we used to go out on like outings within the
02:42:22 go out on like outings within the village we used to go you know together as like a four a four couple if you know I me myself and my wife and B and Nadia this is Bess and my my sister
02:42:35 Nadia this is Bess and my my sister here this is Tak as a younger age we managed to get this one somewhere someone's posted it up or something I don't know whatever
02:42:46 don't know whatever he worked in M Spencer which I did also I worked as a Baker B worked as a section Co coordinator he was so so
02:42:57 section Co coordinator he was so so caring I was so happy working with him you know he really did care and he cared for his job he always worked from his heart he used to start early in the morning before I before I did he start
02:43:09 morning before I before I did he start at 5 I start at 5:30 he used to get up go to work get on the bicycle I used to use the bus and he always say to me S go and get a bicycle let's go on
02:43:21 to me S go and get a bicycle let's go on the road together let's go cycle to work I said to him I'm always worried about drivers you know he always helped around the house he would go shopping he would do things the fact that she was a
02:43:32 do things the fact that she was a teacher I'm sure he was proud of her who wouldn't want the mother of their child to be a
02:43:40 to be a teacher very passionate person about her job very professional um always uh wanted the best for the child done many courses you know to do
02:43:54 child done many courses you know to do with child care to do with developing herself as a teacher started basically from child care just studying child care to becoming a teacher an assistant
02:44:05 to becoming a teacher an assistant teacher and uh the school loved her so I've known nardia for 10 years she came here as a young um Nursery
02:44:16 she came here as a young um Nursery officer and she you know she was she was young and she had a young family and but she was really Keen to do anything she could do to improve and she really
02:44:29 could do to improve and she really wanted to be the best she could be she started school when Mna started in our Nursery so Mna was three and then Fatima
02:44:40 Nursery so Mna was three and then Fatima joined her a couple of years later and then obviously Zab came to honor Nursery just last um
02:45:00 may she was so so funny as well she had a good
02:45:07 a good heart uh very intelligent uh I always said so you're going to be a teacher but she's to wear the glasses you're going to be a teacher you'll do good as a teacher every morning my alarm goes off
02:45:19 teacher every morning my alarm goes off and of course decide to wake up I then do my hair so it doesn't get in the way when I am doing stuff and put on my
02:45:31 glasses she was very focused very caring loves going out loves shopping she loves the things I love which is good you know she always
02:45:42 love which is good you know she always just go my in my room which was in my mom's house and say all these shoes look at my look what my auntie's got she's got all these lipstick shoes and all these different kinds of shoes
02:45:53 these different kinds of shoes tracksuits and all that she loved my style Mina you know and of course having had my clothes on I put on my jacket and get my bag ready to go
02:46:06 get my bag ready to go swimming me not oh my God I can't even describe how like amazing she was like words can't even did describe how much of a sister she was to me she
02:46:18 how much of a sister she was to me she was my human diary that's what she was I used to never keep a diary I us just tell to her she used to advise me she she she can be she she used to be the person which you could have a conversation with for for anything like
02:46:31 conversation with for for anything like she would always be there to have a conversation with you and she she's like the type of person who you can deeply tell anything to she'd be the shoulder to cry on the best hugs and she was just so so kind
02:46:45 best hugs and she was just so so kind kind sweetest girl you'd ever meet we'd sit around in the playground we'd talk or she would play with my hair a lot a lot and um yeah she just and we
02:46:59 lot a lot and um yeah she just and we thought I'd say um tell her these boring stories about my sister and she'd always find them so funny I don't know why she just find them so funny her laugh was
02:47:10 just find them so funny her laugh was just the beautifullest sound ever amazing and just just wish I could hear it
02:47:17 it now I valued her so much and especially after the fire it hit me so hard because I was on the phone to her and she told me I love you a I love you bye and when
02:47:30 me I love you a I love you bye and when she had told me that it's like it was it was it hurt me so much to see that somebody who I grew up with somebody who I value as my sister I mean that that that family is the closest Family I've
02:47:42 that family is the closest Family I've ever had me and them will protect us sister Fatima will protect her sister and protect the little one so they were so protective for each other you know it's amazing you
02:47:54 it's amazing you know Fatima was a delightful Charming little girl who was probably he she found her learning more
02:48:05 probably he she found her learning more difficult than her older sister had but she really really worked at it really tried hard and we were thrilled but desperately sad when just after rful
02:48:16 desperately sad when just after rful fire and about early July we had all the sax results and but so thrilled that Fatima had achieved the National Standard for all her subjects and for her that was that was a very difficult
02:48:29 her that was that was a very difficult uh thing to have done loving caring girl um used to fight with her sister love music love sports
02:48:40 with her sister love music love sports she was blossoming she I call her she's like a flower blossoming you know after the fire Fatima's team were playing in the girls football final within our local area and
02:48:53 football final within our local area and you know they said we're doing this for Fatima we're doing this for Fatima and it was a very very moving for us all because these girls were you three of her best friends were in this team and uh it was really important for them and
02:49:05 uh it was really important for them and the boys the boys were so behind it you know score a goal for Fatima score score a goal for Fatima F FAA she was a very sporty character like she used to football she used to go to tournaments
02:49:17 football she used to go to tournaments she she she was really really good she would even if she was scared of things she would overcome her fear and still do it because she wouldn't know when she would get another opportunity to do that she she was my she was my little sister
02:49:30 she she was my she was my little sister I loved
02:49:33 her hello hello Z was such a beautiful kid such a beautiful kid as a young age she was beautiful and she was even beautiful when she was young you
02:49:45 beautiful when she was young you know she was about three years old that time three yeah this is her sitting down with the olives put them on her hand she was a good actor I remember her
02:49:59 hand she was a good actor I remember her she was a good actor she used to meet things and do things and she used to um copy people you know where was she found fun if she'll copy them she's a
02:50:13 showstopper um liked wasn't ashamed to be like um in the in the Limelight is that what they say um wasn't ashamed of
02:50:26 say um wasn't ashamed of that zanib is to me is like a a Betty Boo character um someone with a Sparky cheeky um sense of humor and uh
02:50:40 Sparky cheeky um sense of humor and uh loves to laugh loves to explore loves to touch things and um just not hearing her voice um you know
02:50:52 voice um you know you you know it's really difficult really is difficult
02:50:59 she's she's the spark of the
02:51:04 family most of my photos are with my mom it's been really difficult to gather up you know like family photos together the school being kind enough to release
02:51:16 school being kind enough to release these pictures so to see all this you know
02:51:23 know just brings a a tear to my
02:51:28 eye you can make that bigger is it that one yeah I I have it screenshot on my screenshot yeah this one the rest oh you know you got to save them for me and put them okay send them to me I
02:51:40 and put them okay send them to me I don't have any pictures basically the pictures I'm just Gathering from here to there you
02:51:45 there you know I mean sometimes I'll think I'll say to myself I've got this and then I'll realize I have it but I lost it in the fire so that's how it's affected me
02:51:56 the fire so that's how it's affected me really bad yeah now yeah that family is the closest Family I've ever had they were amazing that house was like a second house to me I used to go there after school I used to be there on
02:52:08 after school I used to be there on weekends we used to go there at half terms she used to come to my but mainly I used to go to her cuz he used to busy and amazing andu hello sister running around I have many memories of them
02:52:21 around I have many memories of them being together as a family talked about each other's days um on the kitchen table and uh just spoke about General life together and very open with each
02:52:34 life together and very open with each other my mom would come in as well and at sort of breakfast time because she would have to get zanab so she would be part of um the sitting down at break breakfast they just were a very
02:52:46 breakfast they just were a very tight-knit close supportive family I I you know I can't think of many who who are as tight-knit and supportive they
02:52:57 are as tight-knit and supportive they were a very solid unit very tight he adored her I think she adored him and I think um I think the family was so important to them [Music]
02:53:10 [Music] both I myself of
02:53:31 [Music]
02:53:38 all let it be let it be let it be
02:53:46 [Music] well
02:53:56 well it's how can I say it's wrecked our family tell you the truth it's wrecked it in a way cuz loved ones have gone all of them you know from Mom to sister to
02:54:10 of them you know from Mom to sister to nieces it's destroyed us basically
02:54:15 basically our family's just been shattered basically the love that was there just seems to have um shattered
02:54:28 everywhere now Ramon's coming as well so that's another thing we have to face because it was during the fire of Ramadan and we've comeing we're going to have our Ramadan soon so it's going to
02:54:41 have our Ramadan soon so it's going to be very hard for us yeah all I want is Justice that's it that's all I want you know I can't replace my my sister my mom my nieces I
02:54:54 replace my my sister my mom my nieces I can't replace them and that's really difficult cuz it's it hurts us every time it doesn't make a difference if it's a year or two years it won't make a difference because it's not easy you
02:55:07 difference because it's not easy you know to do to continue life as
02:55:13 normal my family if they were here knowing who they were as people would want Justice to come out would
02:55:27 want Justice to come out would want this not to happen again and would fight for that things have to change we will fight for them to change and we're going to make sure that
02:55:41 change and we're going to make sure that this doesn't happen to other people [Music]
02:56:43 for [Music]
02:57:02 [Applause]
02:57:16 [Applause] thank you very much it was a very moving presentation thank you thank you sir if we could just take five minutes and then hasham rahman's family can pay their commemoration to
02:57:29 family can pay their commemoration to him yes of course thank
02:57:43 you
03:07:23 so before we proceed to the last of the commemorations for this evening with grateful thanks to everybody who has remained can I merely through you make
03:07:34 remained can I merely through you make an announcement about tomorrow yes of course we are obviously concerned about anything else that that people are as prepared as they
03:07:45 that that people are as prepared as they can be for the portraits although of course images are bound to affect people in different ways tomorrow morning there will be a sheet available which will
03:07:59 will be a sheet available which will list the names of the various commemorations for the rest of this period and next to it there will be an indication of any of them which have
03:08:10 indication of any of them which have particularly emotive parts or parts which make emotive those will be available tomorrow and they will be available every day and so first thing in the morning I will
03:08:21 so first thing in the morning I will remind people those sheets exist and therefore if something happens everybody has something in their hands which they can refer to and I hope that that will give people some comfort for the future
03:08:33 give people some comfort for the future four days well thank you thank you very much I think that'll be very welcome because some of the images are inevitably distressing and uh people need to be aware of the fact that they may be shown
03:08:45 aware of the fact that they may be shown I'm grateful thank you so with apologies for the delay to them we now have the commemoration for hasham ramen the family are going to be I think
03:09:00 ramen the family are going to be I think introduced by the gentleman sitting at the end perhaps you'd come and join us and tell us your name first of
03:09:10 all Hello everybody um my name is kareim misi um I lost my uh my uncle Hisham Rahman who lived on the uh top floor of
03:09:21 Rahman who lived on the uh top floor of Grandfield Tower
03:09:24 Tower um my auntie Noah and her son Omar have put together a short video which uh we will share with you in just a second um they did it
03:09:35 they did it themselves and uh they were the closest to my uncle and they're the ones that have suffered the most since June last
03:09:47 have suffered the most since June last year they didn't just lose uh uh a brother or an an uncle they lost more than that so i' I'd like to share the video with you now if
03:09:58 like to share the video with you now if that's okay and before you share the video perhaps you'd introduce the fellow people on the stage I apologize yeah um so my auntie Noah who uh put the video together with her son it's my wife Vega
03:10:12 together with her son it's my wife Vega um my great uncle Muhammad and our solicitor and friend Jules so I think now we can see your film yeah thank
03:10:26 you I think the lights will need to go down as
03:10:41 well my name is NOA bagdadi I'm recording this because I lost one very important person in my life on June 14th 2017 a huge part of me is missing and no
03:10:55 2017 a huge part of me is missing and no words could ever express what this person meant to me and my family his name is Hisham Raman 57 years old he lived on the 23rd floor of Grenville
03:11:07 lived on the 23rd floor of Grenville Tower in flat
03:11:11 204 my earliest memories of Hisham are of him cuddling me and singing until I fell
03:11:18 fell asleep Hisham wasn't just my big brother he became my best friend I loved his company we would go on long walks from labri grad to Queens Way and sometimes
03:11:30 labri grad to Queens Way and sometimes we would find ourselves walking all the way to Oxford Street during these walks I would pour out my heart to him telling him about what I've been up to and the latest piece of music I wrote you see
03:11:43 latest piece of music I wrote you see Hisham was my biggest fan he even gave me weekly pocket money I would say to him hasham enough now you know I'm good now you know you don't need to do this
03:11:54 now you know you don't need to do this anymore and he would say to me I'm so proud of you but you know what in my eyes you'll always be my baby sister Hisham was kind generous and with
03:12:06 sister Hisham was kind generous and with a heart of gold he loved to write poetry he loved music he was a Wonder wonderful hairdresser so
03:12:19 talented he was funny and he was so caring he loved my children so much he would do anything for us and he
03:12:30 much he would do anything for us and he was the most amazing son to my mother my name is Omar my uncle lived in gral Tower he
03:12:42 Omar my uncle lived in gral Tower he sadly per
03:12:43 sadly per perished he was the most kind man I have ever
03:12:48 ever met he was the world to me his personality Made Me Stronger Every time I was around him we were to do so many
03:13:00 I was around him we were to do so many fun things together these things have sadly now come to an end it's hit us in the
03:13:11 end it's hit us in the heart we are so lost without him we are heartbroken we are traumatized and we are devastated we miss him so very
03:13:25 are devastated we miss him so very [Music]
03:13:35 [Applause] [Music]
03:13:39 [Music] [Applause] much
03:13:44 much [Applause] um if it's okay with you I'd like to to read something out
03:13:53 um
03:14:01 so I want to share with you my last memory of my uncle hasham Rahman excuse me take your time
03:14:15 it was when I visited him for the last time in his flat it was a sunny day and the lifts weren't working in grfl Tower which used to happen quite often I took the stairs all the way to
03:14:28 often I took the stairs all the way to the top
03:14:29 the top floor there was only one staircase and it was quite narrow I suffered with Asma so um it's a challenge for me to walk it away to the
03:14:41 challenge for me to walk it away to the top I had to stop every three or four floors just to take a break and catch my
03:14:48 breath I was with nine other people who were also woking up with me that day which made me feel quite claustrophobic we had to walk in single file cuz like I said earlier the
03:15:00 file cuz like I said earlier the staircase was very
03:15:04 narrow I couldn't help but think how on Earth would my uncle be able to escape this Tower if there was a file
03:15:15 finally I got to the top floor of the tower I went into his flat but instead of a hello hi Uncle how are you and a great
03:15:26 hello hi Uncle how are you and a great big
03:15:27 big hug I recited the Quran as I walked to the area where his remains were
03:15:39 found I carried on praying
03:15:44 and then I began apologizing to
03:15:48 him I remember saying I'm sorry Uncle I'm sorry you had to go through this I'm sorry you were left alone to
03:15:59 this I'm sorry you were left alone to die in this death trap I stayed in his flat for as long as I
03:16:04 I could looking at the window of where he used to watch me play football at the West way Sport Center his flat was unrecognizable one big black
03:16:17 unrecognizable one big black room with no windows and cracks all over the
03:16:22 floor I will never be able to get that picture of the staircase out of my head the smudged Fingerprints of adults and kids in that narrow staircase will stay with me
03:16:33 stay with me forever the total Blackness of the walls and melted light fixtures giving me an insight into the terror the survivors must have felt that night and the
03:16:48 helplessness the helplessness of the loved ones be lost this last memory of my uncle in his flat is what has given me the strength to stand here right now to fight for
03:17:00 to stand here right now to fight for justice and change and I promise you it will come I promise you it Bo
03:17:11 yes
03:17:17 so I ask you all here and everyone watching when you go home tonight hug your loved ones cherish every moment with
03:17:28 ones cherish every moment with them because until those in power listen and make
03:17:33 and make changes to a system that failed until then only God knows how many homes are safe in this country
03:17:44 many homes are safe in this country only you those in power can make that change so listen to our stories and learn from your mistakes we are here to remember my
03:17:57 mistakes we are here to remember my uncle hem
03:18:00 uncle hem Rahman but to properly remember him we have to remember why we are here we are be here we are here because of
03:18:11 of failure we are here because the system failed the system was allowed to kill husham Rahman and 71 other ones 71 other Souls
03:18:22 Souls sorry the very system designed to protect those people but it failed it failed them because it allowed individuals within that system to convince themselves that they had done
03:18:35 convince themselves that they had done enough the system allowed them to hide behind rules and regulations and forget that there were human beings lives at stake we are here because there is a
03:18:48 stake we are here because there is a system of
03:18:51 system of neglect a system which allows individuals to show contempt for others and call it just doing my
03:19:02 job we had to form humanitarian groups to look after each other because there was no one else to look after us no one else was there needed
03:19:13 else was there needed them so we did it ourselves and now we are having an inquiry to find out what most of us already
03:19:23 already know what we had been saying for years and not been listened to we're here because nobody nobody listened because those in Authority were
03:19:34 listened because those in Authority were convinced they knew better we are here because that system is broken you can't can't sweep the under of the
03:19:44 of the carpet can't hide behind rules and procedures no more that's what allowed people to
03:19:54 die we were let down before during and all this time after the fire materials that are clearly dangerous to use in
03:20:05 dangerous to use in buildings are still there up and down the country right now right this second while I'm talking to you these materials are still still on these buildings the very same ones that killed our families that killed my
03:20:17 that killed my uncle it's been almost a year and only recently we've been told that the government is going to commit to removing this
03:20:26 cladin not good enough is not the
03:20:31 word right now right this second this is how our families are being remembered they're being remembered by a culture of neglect
03:20:45 institutional inertia hiding behind a system that's failed we want the truth not bureaucracy we want light to be shown on
03:20:56 bureaucracy we want light to be shown on what went wrong and who is responsible we do not want excuses Buck passing fancy technical arguments or any legal gray
03:21:07 legal gray areas we want an inquiry into the truth the truth that people died because those in Authority convinced themselves that they had done enough kareim can I just I have to be
03:21:21 enough kareim can I just I have to be very careful here and I don't mean to interrupt you but some of what you're about to
03:21:28 about to say is for the evidential hearings I'm not going I'm not going to stop you I'm not going to stop you sure sure I think um with all due respect we've been
03:21:39 um with all due respect we've been centered enough it's our time whether you like it or not you will have to listen speak
03:21:52 brother so let me continue so I asked the representatives the lawyers and experts working for these organizations who by the way are not here today I don't see
03:22:05 the way are not here today I don't see them here today which I find quite disrespectful if I'm being honest
03:22:13 honest I ask you the people who must be held to account go home tonight and hug your loved
03:22:20 loved ones cherish every single moment of it because I hope and trust you feel safe in your homes because we are still not and when you're at
03:22:32 not and when you're at home I'd like you to remember not only my uncle his rman I'd also like you to remember the 71 other Souls we lost their families and their
03:22:45 and their friends you have a duty to them and to yourselves to the truth and not
03:22:54 procedes because I promise you we will not let you
03:23:00 [Applause]
03:23:06 forget I'd like to um I'd like to finish today by by reading a PO my uncle Ro as my auntie said in the video my uncle used to express himself through poetry on social media and um he wrote some
03:23:20 on social media and um he wrote some beautiful poems this particular poem I'm about to read he wrote in February 2016 and it's called My
03:23:31 will my will for who will remember me one day remember my presence before my departure
03:23:43 presence before my departure to see a smile on your face when I'm gone a prayer from your heart no tears or sadness name my grave if we share the memory that's in
03:23:54 grave if we share the memory that's in your heart always remember it with a smile for who will remember me one
03:24:03 day remember my presence before my departure thank you
03:24:46 thank you very much I'm sorry you had to wait so long to make your commemoration but it was worth the wait thank
03:24:56 you thank you thank you very much now I think there's one more statement that's it all right that's not going to all right thank
03:25:07 you well that finished on a strong point yes which is good perhaps we can just uh thank again the family for and support thank you very
03:25:30 much so that's the end of today's proceedings and we sit again tomorrow at 10:00 please well thank you all for being here so long it's turned into a very long day day and a very emotional
03:25:43 very long day day and a very emotional day and I'm grateful to all of you for being here particularly to see it through right to the end thank you very much we'll finish now and start again at 10 o' tomorrow thank
03:26:10 you