For the 9th Anniversary
On the morning of Thursday, 7 July 2005, four terrorist suicide bombers attacked London—three aboard London Underground trains across the city and,a fourth on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square. 52 civilians and the 4 bombers were killed and over 700 more were injured in theses attacks. The attacks occurred one day after London had won its bid to host the Olympic games in 2012.
This permanent memorial is to honour the victims of the 7 July 2005 London Bombings and is located in the south east corner of Hyde Park, just north of Achilles to the east of Lovers Walk.
The memorial comprises 52 stainless steel pillars (stelae), collectively representing each of the 52 victims who died, grouped together in four inter-linking clusters reflecting the four locations of the incidents. Kings Cross, Tavistock Square, Aldgate, and Edgeware Road. Constructed from solid-cast, long-lasting stainless steel, each stelae measures 3.5 metres high and is unique, with individual characteristic finishes brought about by the casting process. A stainless steel plaque listing the names of the victims is sited on a grass bank at tend of the memorial
It was unveiled in Hyde Park by Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, on the fourth anniversary of the disaster, Tuesday 7 July 2009. The memorial was produced by a design team including architects Carmody Groarke and engineering team Arup, and was cast by Sheffield foundry Norton Cast Products.
It is a wonderful memorial to visit and photograph at any time of the day but it has a special presence in the early morning when the sun hits the steel pillars. I have spent a lot time on this set of photographs in memory of the victims who died or were injured, their family and friends, all those who helped on the day and the subsequent days/years as well of those who continue to keep London safe and secure.
For more details on the bombing see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_July_2005_London_bombings
Peace Foundation http://www.foundation4peace.org
London Photo Areas and Routes 