'LEAN ON ME'
Adele sings with tearful Grenfell families as community comes together for emotional memorial service
ADELE was spotted singing along to Lean On Me as she joined thousands of mourners today to remember the 72 victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
The popstar joined bereaved families and survivors of the tragedy, who gathered near the hollowed skeleton of the tower to pay their respects to the dead.
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Many in the devastated west London community arrived dressed in green, the colour that has come to symbolise the disaster, as Britain fell silent on the first anniversary of the deadly blaze.
Adele looked emotional as she stood with those touched by the tragedy and joined in with the gospel choir’s rendition of “Lean On Me”.
Grime artist Stormzy stood quietly feet away at the “wall of truth” before posing for pictures with local children.
Both stars, who were also joined by Marcus Mumford, have been critical about the lack of support offered to Grenfell victims in the wake of the deadliest residential fire since the Second World War.
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During an onstage performance at Wembley last year Adele told the audience: “They’re not receiving the things we think they are. It’s a f***ing mess. No information is getting through, people feel helpless. No one knows what they’re doing down there, it’s chaos.”
The singer, from Tottenham in north London, made a discreet appearance at Grenfell last year less than 24 hours after the blaze and also visited a local fire station for "tea and cuddles."
Meanwhile Stormzy featured on a charity single to raise money for the victims, and at Glastonbury Festival’s Other Stage urged the "f***ing government to be held accountable for the f***ery" and said "we ain't gonna stop until we get what we deserve".
During a politically charged performance at the Brits in February he also sang: “You Theresa, where’s the money for Grenfell?”
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Nicholas Burton, a former 19th floor resident whose wife, Maria del Pilar Burton, died in January, said: “It was quite weird, I went into the sports centre and I hear 'Hi Nick' and it's Adele calling me over, who introduced me to her new husband and then Marcus comes over and we had a hug, then Stormzy comes over, they have all been unbelievable.
"I was thanking them for all they've done behind the scenes that no-one knows about.
"It was just nice and normal, they may travel the world and are known to millions but down on the ground they are normal people with big hearts wanting to give, this is there community as well, they feel part of it.
"That persona of being famous is out of the window and now they are part of the Grenfell community."
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On an emotional day, the names of the 72 people who died in the blaze were read out at a memorial service at St Helen’s Church in north Kensington.
Bishop of Kensington Dr Graham Tomlin said there was an atmosphere of "quiet dignity, a sombre mood in the air but a quite determined mood at the same time".
Speaking inside the church, he said: "I think Grenfell is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ask some really deep questions about the way we live together, the way we care for each other in society."
Labour MP David Lammy said: "I think of the beauty of the young life that I knew that was Khadija Saye and all that she had to offer this country, and I think of all those other 71 victims who lost their beautiful lives.
"And I think when I look at the faces of the humanity of our country - black, brown and white, and all of those possibilities that have been taken from us."
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Clarrie Mendy, who organised the service, prayed to God that every soul that perished in the blaze would live on "eternally in your golden paradise, Heaven".
After she spoke, the names of the 72 lives claimed by the fire were read out.
Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn joins silent march for Grenfell tower fire victims
She said: "It's a service of healing, community, inclusivity and solidarity, to know we are not alone."
A 72 second silence was observed across the nation at midday while the England football team held their own at their training camp in Russia.
The Queen and Meghan Markle observed the silence in the centre of Chester during their first joint royal engagement.
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The gospel choir marked the end of the minute's quiet in north Kensington by gently rising into a performance of Bridge Over Troubled Water, which was recorded as a single in aid of those affected.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, was among those who stepped forward to lay a wreath near the giant Grenfell sign.
White doves tied with green ribbon were then released into the sky.
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Some 71 people, including a stillborn baby, died in the devastating June 14 fire, and another resident died the following January in what was the country's deadliest domestic fire since World War Two.
The public inquiry has paused for a week to allow people time to reflect on the anniversary.
The tower is now completely covered by white sheeting, with banners featuring the green Grenfell heart and the words "Grenfell forever in our hearts" emblazoned across the four highest floors.
Hundreds took part in a silent procession following the memorial service.
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At 1am this morning, Grenfell and a dozen other tower blocks in the area, as well as 10 Downing Street, were illuminated in green.
A vigil took place at a church near the block, where the victims' names were read out at 1.30am.
Prime Minister Theresa May, who said she will "always regret" not meeting victims in the immediate aftermath of the fire, wrote on Twitter that she wanted to "pay tribute" to the victims' "family, friends and loved ones for the strength and dignity they have shown."
Natasha Elcock, who was one of the last residents to be rescued from the tower and is now a member of the survivor group Grenfell United, praised the community's response to the fire.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she said: "We could have been the most angry community out there because of what happened, but we've chosen to be dignified, be calm.
"Ultimately, that's earned us respect."
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Yvette Williams, from campaign group Justice 4 Grenfell, said: "I think we kind of almost move from 'did it really happen at all?' to 'it feels like it happened yesterday', to looking at the struggles the bereaved families and survivors have had over the year (and realising) that it is actually a year.
"We want the nation to keep Grenfell in their consciousness. The anniversary is about love and support - the fight can start again on Friday and Saturday - and keeping that humanity going on that day."
Antonio Roncolato, a former resident of the 10th floor of the west London high-rise block, said: "Today is a time to reflect and to raise further awareness and make sure that the world is still listening because we don't want this to happen ever again."
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After a silent march at 7pm this evening, families will come together for a community Iftar to break bread with those fasting over Ramadan.
The following day, schools across the country are expected to take part in "Green for Grenfell", a day to "celebrate the spirit of people coming together".
The bereaved and survivors group Grenfell United hopes the idea will become an annual event which will continue the unity and support demonstrated by the local community after the fire.
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June 14 also marks the deadline the council set itself to rehouse all those displaced by the deadly inferno.
However 42 households from the block remain in hotels, while 52 are in temporary accommodation and 83 in permanent new homes. A further 26 are either in serviced apartments or staying with family.
The local authority declined to specify the approximate locations of those now in temporary and permanent homes, including how many people are living in or outside the borough.
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