Mayor and Mayoress attend Manchester vigil

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Mayor and Mayoress, Ian and Christine Duckworth

Mayor Ian Duckworth and Mayoress Christine Duckworth attended the vigil in Manchester, which drew thousands to Albert Square on Tuesday (23 May).

Initially, the newly-appointed Mayor and Mayoress were due to attend the Buckingham Palace Royal Garden Party on Tuesday after travelling to London on Monday.

However, they awoke the next day to the devastating news of the terror attack at the Manchester Arena, which killed 22 people and injured 120 more.

Mayor Duckworth said: “It just didn’t feel right to go to the party, eating cucumber sandwiches after what had happened.”

The Mayoress agreed with him, but as they were representing the town, they were unsure whether to attend the garden party as planned, or return home.

After ringing several members of the Council for advice, and hearing all the mayors across Greater Manchester were requested to attend the vigil in Manchester the same night, they decided to come home and attend.

The Mayor and Mayoress Duckworth stood with Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons and Tim Farron, Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Mayor Duckworth said: “It was amazing; I was overwhelmed by the number of people who were there.”

Thousands gathered at the city centre vigil with ‘I heart MCR’ banners and placards.

Lord Mayor of Manchester, Eddy Newman, lead the vigil, paying tribute to the emergency services.

Ian Hopkins, the Greater Manchester Police Chief thanked those who had worked ‘tirelessly’ through the night, adding that ‘we must all stand together and not let the terrorists defeat us’.

The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker acknowledged the city’s grief and an ode to the city from poet Tony Walsh was read.

Other senior figures included Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.