Final Grenfell anniversary before tower comes down

Bereaved families, survivors and local residents will come together in west London this weekend to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.

The Met Police investigation into what led to the "avoidable" tragedy in 2017 which claimed the lives of 72 people – 18 of whom were children - is still ongoing .

In a few months' time, work will begin to take down the 23-storey building, so this year's eighth anniversary will be especially poignant.

Many families and survivors believe the tower should stay until there are criminal prosecutions while some local residents say they find it difficult to see every day.

Raymond 'Moses' Bernard lived on the top floor of Grenfell Tower for over 30 years. He died while sheltering several of his neighbours in his one bedroom flat as the blaze took hold.

"That is my brother's resting place," says Raymond's sister Bernie Bernard looking up at the tower. "He was cremated in that building."

Bernie says Raymond's flat is likely to be one of the first to go when the dismantling work begins.

"I understand that resting place will be disturbed but it should be disturbed respectfully and not taken away completely."

In February, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, told families she had made the "difficult" decision to "take down the tower to the ground level".

"I totally understand the tower has to come down," says Bernie. "But it should remain until the criminal case has been dealt with, until there are prosecutions."

Family friend Jackie Leger said: "Seeing the tower and the green hearts give us hope."

Bernie has asked Ms Rayner to reconsider her decision and allow some of the tower's structure to remain.

"We were told the first 10 floors were OK," she says. "They should at the very least keep the reception."

Jackie added: "I can't see why the government can't wait a few more years to start the demolition. It's going to destroy a lot of people, especially families."

Survivor Tiago Alves was 21 when he escaped with his family from their 13th floor home. In the aftermath he paused his studies, but is now back at university doing a physics PHD and campaigns with Grenfell United.

"It will incredibly difficult as this will be the last anniversary where the tower is standing," he says.

"For some people this is a crime scene, for others it's where their loved ones have ed. For me personally it's where my childhood went up in flames."

Tiago says he often visits the makeshift memorial wall at the foot of the tower to "reflect and ".

"I am lucky to be here, so many others weren't," he says.

"My personal view is that the tower should not come down until justice is served."

Munira Mahmud's family also lived in Grenfell Tower for many years. They all managed to escape from the fire and still live locally in North Kensington.

But her best friend Rania Ibrahim and two daughters Fethia, aged four, and three-year-old Hania, died.

"Some days I go there sit down and just cry," she says. "I think maybe they can hear me, the souls that were lost, my friend and the girls. I can hear them... saying Auntie... Mama."

Munira also wants to keep the building intact until there are criminal prosecutions.

"What we are fighting for and yearning for is justice - prosecutions for those responsible. We deserve that."

She accepts the tower will eventually have to come down, but asks "what's the rush":[]}