FRIENDS and relatives of the Manchester Arena bomb attack victims paid tribute yesterday on the first anniversary of the terrorist atrocity.
The Duke of Cambridge and Theresa May were among those who paid homage at a special ceremony at Manchester Cathedral before a minute's silence was observed.
Thousands of well-wishers gathered in Albert Square a year to the day suicide bomber Salman Abedi launched his attack that killed 22 people — including children as young as eight — who were at an Ariana Grande concert.
An estimated 3,000 singers were thought to be at the open-air Manchester Together — With One Voice event to perform songs by some of the city's most successful bands.
They included Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis, One Day Like This by Elbow and Never Forget by Take That. Also on the song sheet was One Last Time, a hit for Grande, who had tweeted: 'Thinking of you all today and every day.
'I love you with all of me and am sending you all of the light and warmth I have to offer on this challenging day.'
The 24-year-old organised a tribute concert, dubbed 'One Love Manchester', which was held at the city's Old Trafford cricket ground on June 4 last year and featured artists that included Liam Gallagher, Little Mix, Coldplay, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry.
Last night's evening of solidarity through music began with a series of video messages from some famous names, including many Mancunians. To cheers, Manchester United great Ryan Giggs said: 'Manchester is a city of music and is a city of love, and we are sending out love and prayers on this emotional day.'
Mani from The Stone Roses said: 'One voice Manchester — sing it up.'
Shaun Ryder, of the Happy Mondays, said: 'I am thinking of you. In fact I know I love you all big time massive.'
The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Joan Hitchen, thanked the emergency responders who helped 'bring our Manchester together again'.
She added: 'We also stand in solidarity with each other as Mancunians and tonight we are going to show the world that we stand together.' Some 800 people had attended the hour-long service at Manchester Cathedral, including families and friends, along with front-line responders and volunteers who helped in the aftermath of the bombing.
Along with Prince William and the prime minister, other dignitaries present included the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon and the Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
A minute's silence — observed nationwide — was held at 2.30pm with tears inside the cathedral, where photographs of those killed were displayed on screens, and outside, where thousands watched in Cathedral Gardens.
The victims were represented by 22 lit candles on the altar, which were made using wax from the thousands left in their memory by mourners in St Ann's Square at the time of the attack.
A larger single lit candle remembered bereaved families and friends, more than 800 who were injured, those who helped on the night and those who have helped with the recovery. The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev David Walker told how the city would never forget those who died and would support the wounded.
'Part of the horror is that the arena appeared to have been deliberately chosen as a venue full of young people,' he said. 'Today they are one year into living with those life-changing injuries, with many decades of continuing to do so lying ahead of them.'
Afterwards, Prince William met privately with some of the bereaved families and left a handwritten message on a Tree of Hope. It read: 'To all those affected, you will never be forgotten.
'And to the people of Manchester, my admiration for your display of strength, decency and community in the face of this unparalleled tragedy. William.'
Bells were scheduled to ring out from the town hall at 10.31pm, marking the moment the attack took place.
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