Tearful survivors and bereaved families embraced firefighters on the streets of west London on Sunday evening, as the community marked the final anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire before the block is completely demolished.
Around 1,500 people, many dressed in green, walked in silence from Ladbroke Grove to remember the 72 people killed in the June 14 2017 blaze. A sea of signs reading “this much evidence, still no charges” and “enough is enough” accompanied the crowd, along with green hearts and balloons.
“1500 people march in silence for Grenfell's 9th anniversary, hugging firefighters, as demolition looms.”
As the procession reached Ladbroke Grove, personnel from London Fire Brigade lined the road. People, some with tears in their eyes, could be seen hugging and shaking hands with them.
The march – organised by Grenfell United, which represents many of the bereaved and survivors – was described in a statement as “in solidarity to remember those we lost, and demand justice”. The group noted it is “the last anniversary with any part of Grenfell Tower remaining”.
“Nine years on, too many promises remain unfulfilled,” the statement said. “Most painful of all is the continued delay to criminal justice.”
Police and prosecutors announced last month that up to 20 companies and 57 individuals could face criminal charges over the blaze. Decisions will be made on whether any charges will be brought before next year’s 10th anniversary, the Metropolitan Police said. Potential offences under consideration include corporate gross negligence manslaughter, fraud, health and safety breaches, and misconduct in public office.
Grenfell survivor Edward Daffarn described the wait as “torturous”. He said: “It’s an old expression, but justice delayed is justice denied.”
The fire, caused by an electrical fault on the fourth floor that spread to the building’s cladding, was found by a public inquiry to have been avoidable. The final report in 2024 concluded that victims had been “badly failed” through incompetence, dishonesty and greed, and blamed the “systematic dishonesty” of firms that made and sold the cladding and insulation. Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick condemned the “deliberate and sustained” manipulation of fire safety testing.
During a memorial service at Notting Hill Methodist Church earlier on Sunday, a message from the mother of Italian architect Gloria Trevisan, 26, who died with her boyfriend Marco Gottardi, 27, on the top floor, was read. Her mother Emanuela Disaro wrote: “We will never be able to forgive those who through greed, dishonesty and personal interest allowed themselves to be…”
The demolition of the tower began in September last year and is expected to take around two years. Sir Martin Moore-Bick said: “This is the first year that bereaved and survivors are not going to be able to visit the tower to lay flowers and pay our condolences. We don’t know exactly what the site is going to look like next year, so people are having to find different ways to remember.”