Tree planted in Heywood in memory of Manchester Arena victims and Fusilier Lee Rigby

A tree has been planted in Heywood to remember the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena bombing and Fusilier Lee Rigby.

The tree was planted on Green Lane by Rochdale Borough Council’s Environmental Management team on 22 May, the anniversary of both Lee’s murder and the bombing, as a mark of respect.

Flowers were lain after the tree was planted.

 

 

25-year-old Fusilier Rigby, from Langley, Middleton was stabbed to death while off duty outside the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, South London on 22 May 2013.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/80554/murdered-soldier-named-as-lee-rigby-from-langley

His killers, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, were sentenced to life in prison in December 2013 after they were found guilty of his murder.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/84407/lee-rigby-killers-found-guilty

22 people were tragically killed and hundreds injured when a suicide bomb was detonated after an Ariana Grande concert at the Arena on 22 May 2017.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/110228/22-dead-and-scores-injured-in-terror-attack-at-manchester-arena

Those killed were: John Atkinson, Courtney Boyle, Kelly Brewster, Georgina Callander, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, Liam Curry, Wendy Fawell, Martyn Hett, Alison Howe, Megan Hurley, Nell Jones, Michelle Kiss, Angelika Klis, Marcin Klis, Sorrell Leczkowski, Lisa Lees, Eilidh MacLeod, Elaine McIver, Saffie Rose Roussos, Chloe Rutherford, Philip Tron and Jane Tweddle-Taylor.

The worker bee symbol of Manchester has since been adopted in remembrance of the 22. It originally became a symbol of Manchester following the hard work and ‘hive of activity’ during the Industrial Revolution and represents the city’s innovative and enterprising past.