Market Drayton holds vigil to show support for Manchester after terror attack
Families in Market Drayton left roses and lit candles in memory of those who died in the Manchester attack at a hastily organised but well-attended vigil.
Organiser Dwain Smith, 25, woke on Tuesday to hear the news about the attack that saw 22 people lose their lives and more than 60 people injured.
He took to Facebook to ask if anybody would help him organise something as a mark of respect.
Less than 12 hours later he was stood with dozens of people at The Buttercross on Cheshire Street, Market Drayton, paying his respects to those who had lost their lives.
It was one of a number of events organised in the region to show solidarity with Manchester, including a vigil held in Wellington last night.
“It was a lovely event in sad circumstances,” Dwain said. “Hopefully we never have to do anything like it again.
“It was amazing – I couldn’t have been happier with the amount of people that turned up.
“The support that everybody showed was lovely.
“My heart goes out to all the families in Manchester.”
Visitors were given the chance to donate funds to the victims of the terrorist attack during the vigil. Dwain said they’d raised about £130 on the night, and that more will be collected at Morrisons on Maer Lane over the coming days. Volunteers collecting money spoke of the generosity of people, including a little girl who had offered all she had – 15p – to help those in need.
During the vigil, a number of speeches were given by local religious figures and Deputy Mayor Mark Whittle.
He said: “Dwain organised something that is very special.
“At the moment, we have had 22 people pass away and there are over 50 injured in Manchester. One of the youngest people there was eight years old.“If you look at your wife, your husband or child – that could well have been them at that concert. Together we’ve come together for the people of Manchester, to show solidarity against this terrible crime. The people who’ve done this have tried to break us up. I don’t think that will ever happen. That’s what it’s all about. Being together as a town, and as people.”
Reverend Hywel Snook said: “We can all empathise and think about those people.“Evil breaks things apart and it wrecks things. The only response is goodness. We cannot destroy evil with evil”
“Goodness is about coming together like we did at the vigil. It’s about loving people because they’re different from us.
“Our response to all of these things is to carry to on being who we are, doing what we do. Next time I see on the internet there’s a gig that I want to go and see, I’m going to see it – they’re not going to stop me.
“The second response should be to find people who are different from us, get to know them and care for everybody. We cannot be divided by hate.”
Shropshire Star reporter Mat Growcott was at the vigil:
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