hello, it's thursday, it's 9am, i'm victoria derbyshire. this morning, we're at st paul's cathedral where members of the royal family and the prime minister will join families of victims of the grenfell tower fire for a memorial service, six months after the devastating fire which killed 71 people. throughout the programme, we'll be joined by those who survived the fire and will be attending today's memorial as they prepare for their first christmas since the disaster. it's not going to be a happy time. christmas is meant for a family to be together. we will hear tributes to some of the loved ones who died that night on the 14th of june. i, betty, cry every night foryou, mary and khadija. all the advice you gave me and my children will stay with us

for the rest of our lives. good morning. a frosty morning in central london, outside st paul's cathedral. over the next couple of hours, 1500 invited guests will make their way inside for the national memorial service and we will be talking to some of them over the next couple of hours. let us bring you the bbc news so far today. a memorial service is being held at st paul's cathedral this morning for the victims and survivors of the grenfell tower fire in west london. 71 people were killed when the fire tore through the tower block, six months ago today. prince charles, prince william and theresa may will be among the 2,000 people who are expected to attend. my

my thoughts and the thoughts of eve ryo ne my thoughts and the thoughts of everyone in the met with people who lost their lives and their loved ones. also those people who lived in g re nfell tower ones. also those people who lived in grenfell tower and those who escaped, those who have lost their homes and the local community. it is the most appalling tragedy. our thoughts are with them. theresa may is due at a summit in brussels, hours after conservative rebels in the commons defeated the government in a key brexit vote. mps backed an amendment giving them a legal guarantee of a vote on the final brexit deal struck with brussels. one rebel, stephen hammond, was sacked by the prime minister as a party vice chairman in the aftermath of the vote. a third person has been charged with the murder of four children who died ina the murder of four children who died in a house fire in salford on monday. a 25—year—old man from the area has also been charged with

attempted murder and arson. the medical charity, msf, says it believes more than six and a half thousand rohingya muslims were killed in the violence that began in myanmar in late august. the estimate is based on interviews with some of the six hundred thousand rohingyas who've fled to neighbouring bangladesh. the burmese armed forces have stated that about four hundred people died, describing most of them as muslim terrorists. the hollywood actor salma hayek has become the latest celebrity to accuse harvey weinstein of harassment. in an article for the new york times, she wrote that the film producer threatened to kill her and described him as a "rage fuelled monster". a spokesperson for mr weinstein disputed the actor's account. british doctors said they had made a significant breakthrough in the treatment of haemophilia a. around 6000 people in the uk have the defect meaning their blood cannot clot properly. the research team

used gene therapy to correct the defect in a small safety trial. all the 13 patients who took part no longer need treatment. health secretary jeremy hunt says longer need treatment. health secretaryjeremy hunt says the nhs in england will become the first health care system in the world to publish the numbers of death of patients caused in their care. the data will be published on avoidable deaths by the end of the year the data to follow soon afterwards. up to 9000 people die each because of problems and failures in nhs care. that is a summary of the latest bbc news. more a bit later. time for the sport now. the crucial third ashes test has begun at the waca in perth with england needing to avoid defeat to keep their hopes of retaining the urn alive. having won the toss and chosing to bat, it's been a steady start so far for england, but they lost alastair cook forjust seven. marc stoneman showed

there was some fight with a 58 before he was controversially dismissed. james vince and joe root reached the 20s, but dawid malan helped england past the 200 mark with his half century. england are now 253—4 in their first innings. the four—time tour de france champion chris froome has told the bbc he understands people will be cynical but insists his legacy won't be tainted, after it emerged he had double the allowed level of a legal asthma drug in his urine following a test during the vuelta de espana, which he won, in september. cycling's world governing body, the uci, wants more details from the team but froome has not been suspended. manchester city have extended their winning premier league run to a record breaking 15 games by hammering struggling swansea 4—0. all the football stories on the bbc sport website and app. good morning. this morning, we're broadcasting live from st paul's cathedral ahead of a national memorial services for the victims and survivors of the grenfell tower fire.

it was exactly six months ago today that a small blaze spread rapidly from the kitchen in a flat on the fourth floor of the block to, within hours, the top of the tower, the 24th floor. inside, mums, dads, children, grandmas, uncles, aunties, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands. they'd come to live in a high—rise building on the lancaster west estate in north kensington, one of the richest boroughs in the country, from all over the uk, and from all over the world — ethiopia, italy, sierra leone, the philipines, gambia. as a result of the fire onjune 1ath, and no one knew this then as we broadcast from north kensington that morning, 71 people died. the service today will be attended by the prince of wales, the duchess of cornwall, the duke and duchess of cambridge, and prince harry. st paul's have consulted with the bishop of kensington, the al manaar mosque, local clergy of different faiths,

survivors, the bereaved and the wider community, on the arrangements for this morning. the leader of the local council, conservative—run kensington and chelsea, has been asked by families to stay away. today on the programme, we're going to remember some of those who died. and we're going to talk to survivors, which we've done regularly on our programme sincejune14th. let me introduce you to paul, who lived on the sixth floor of grenfell tower he has chosen to give his first interview to us will stop and to bishop graham tomlin. good morning to both of you. thank you for talking to us. paul, tell us what the day means to you. the day, it is more for the bereaved than anyone else. the people who lost their lives in the fire, it is

remembering that their lives were not obviously, they did not die for anything. it is about remembering the people, my neighbours got my family, people i used to help. things like helping to put shopping in the lifts. it is about remembering bringing the people who survived, coming out of the tower, actually getting a chance to see my neighbours for the first time in quite awhile. since the fire we have been scattered different hotels, different accommodation is at stuff like that. it is more like as a family and the group, bringing eve ryo ne family and the group, bringing everyone together and have a chance to remember the people who tragically lost their lives that day. and the theme of unity is one of the important messages you would like to bring forward today, isn't it? that is right. we wanted this

service to bring together the different aspects of the community. remember those who died and offer support to the families who survived from the tower, those who have been bereaved but offer an element of hope for the future. that is something for the whole community. we hope that will happen today. paul, how would you say you are six months on? to be pretty honest, i don't think that today, six months on, it has not hit home what happens. i do still feel this is just a big, happens. i do still feel this is justa big, long happens. i do still feel this is just a big, long dream and i will eventually wake just a big, long dream and i will eventually wa ke u p just a big, long dream and i will eventually wake up back in my flat inside the tower, back inside my bed. for me, it is still not good. the simple fact that six months on, about a0 households have been rehoused by the rest of us are still in hotels or temporary accommodation is quite sickening, to be brutally honest. i think the most important

thing is to try to move on gradually. if we cannot be doing that if we are in temporary accommodation. what people need a structure in their lives, trying to get back to normality. we cannot do that, especially with young children being in hotel rooms. the only thing right now for kids who survived, the only structure they have is going to school and coming back. that is the only bit of structure they have. going home from school back into one hotel room which is meant to be the sitting rooms, their bedrooms. i think it is still not going to be good enough until people can move on. we need to look at the housing situation and everyone to be rehoused, either temporary or permanent. how would you say your

mental health is? it is not the best at the moment. six months on, like i said it does not feel real. i am on a lot of medication to try to help me come to terms with what i saw that night, trying to help me move on. iam that night, trying to help me move on. i am not in a good place at the moment. when you hear paul described the way he is feeling today, you are hoping to deliver a message of hope later. that is hard to do when people are still clearly traumatised and clearly struggling. exactly. this service has to be something to reflect the emotions and grief that is going on within the local community that paul has expressed so well. there are so many unresolved issues around in the community, around housing, the inquiry and what will come out of that. about the

tower itself and its future. it is difficult to live with that uncertainty. at the same time we do wa nt uncertainty. at the same time we do want to say it is possible for lives to be rebuilt. the significance of coming here to st paul's, it is a religious place. there was a strong desire in the local community to have the servers here because they'd is important to many people in the local area. —— the service. that can bring strength to people. we hope we can express a vision of a way of living together which is better than we have done in the past to give people a feeling that when one chapter comes to an end another begins. it does not resolve the issues but it helps people to move oi'i issues but it helps people to move on and find comfort and even from the fact the nation is coming around to rememberthem and the fact the nation is coming around to remember them and support them today. it is clearly going to be a very emotional day. do you feel comforted in any way that the country is behind you that this is a

national memorial service and the significance of it being held at st paul's? it plays a big part. i don't wa nt paul's? it plays a big part. i don't want people in the broader community, people as far as manchester, to forget everything that has happened down here. from statistics wise, from what people tried to make out, is that people are being rehoused and people are being offered money, people have been given money, charity money, six months on. i don't know why people are still in the way in which they are still in the way in which they are right now. the simple fact is it is not like that. right now, people see it from the outside point of view with what is happening. we're actually doing... they are doing a good thing. stuff like this remembering will help us. people not forgetting that night. i want the

broader community to realise that and remember it going further forward. there was a lot of working—class people. from the outside point of view, people look to the tower and thought a lot of people were probably on benefits who lived in the tower, they probably have income support and jobseeker‘s allowa nce. have income support and jobseeker‘s allowance. that is not the case. there were 1a leaseholders in the building that that is such a working—class family building. so many different cultures of life, so many different cultures of life, so many religions and ethnic groups, all in one block. it was such an amazing block in such a privilege to be part of it. what do you think about the invited guests today? the royals will be well represented and will want to pay their respects. royals will be well represented and will want to pay their respectsm is welcomed. i believe that it is the right thing to do in terms of moving forward, showing them. i know that prince harry and prince

charles, prince william, they have come to the error to show their support for mental health. i really do appreciate that and envy that as well to show their support. for the queen to come down the first couple of days after the fire actually happened, at her age as well, and stand up as long as she stood up. people who survived the fire, i envy herfull people who survived the fire, i envy her full coming people who survived the fire, i envy herfull coming down people who survived the fire, i envy her full coming down and showing people who survived the fire, i envy herfull coming down and showing her support. the prime minister will be here today, and the leaders of the main political parties. here today, and the leaders of the main political partieslj here today, and the leaders of the main political parties. i do not wa nt to main political parties. i do not want to make it political. i am not a big fan of theresa may for the way in which she dealt with coming to the area the first couple of days after, i have a lot of anger and rage towards the with how she dealt with coming to the area, meeting the fire services and driving off. for me, it is good chief has come down now, but she is really hated in the

community. —— it is good she has. you will make a fairly short address, bishop graham tomlin, what else will be featured in the memorial service this morning? lots of different aspects of the service, songs, hymns, prayers, performances, poems, a montage of voices from the local community, trying to express some of the emotions. it will be a very emotional time, hopefully it is something that will reflect the variety of the local community and something everyone can feel part of and feel it is their service. some polls have worked very closely with local community groups and faith groups to make sure this is something that does reflect the local community —— st paul's. hopefully it will bring comfort and support and strength to the local community cover people who are here, and it will be significant, bring people together. many people have been scattered, people who live

together, knew each other very well and hopefully this service will bring them together in a very significant way. thank you very much. thank you for your time, paul, we appreciate it. over the last six months, there has been shock, anger, that quiet anger you heard from paul there and the community has rallied together to support each other. i opened the front door and there was thick smoke among the whole landing. there was a lot of young kids and a lot of old people living in the block. we could see this was a bad one immediately. the sky was glowing. the fire brigade, the ambulance and the police, they couldn't do nothing. they couldn't get in. they were just telling them to just stay there, where they are, we will come and get you. people have lost their homes. children have seen things. people were jumping out of the window. we just need to rebuild as a community now. wow.

we saw a lot, we saw a lot. man, we saw, we saw a lot with our own eyes. we saw, we saw friends, families. our whole life... honestly, it's all right, you don't have to say any more. then i went outside, i called him, i said, "where are you?" he said, "i'm in the flat." i said, "why you didn't come? they brought us outside. i thought you were with us". he said, "no one brought me outside". he said, "why have you left me?" he said, "why?" i didn't leave him. today, we back here in north kensington to catch up with some of those we first met on that wednesday. we still have missing people. we still have no answers. it's constantly, we are expected to chase things.

go here, phone this. why is it ok that there are thousands of empty homes? why, in this area, are these people homeless? i don't want money. we are not looking for money. olu does not want temporary accommodation. he wants permanent accommodation. he wants good, permanent accommodation. that is not too much to ask. can you promise him that? victoria, what we have said... just say yes or no. exactly. i was happy in my house. i work hard, you know, i work hard. i had a good house. what about those people that lost their children? where are they hiding? they can't even go in their heads. they can't even go and sleep at night. what about those people? what about them ? shame on you! booing. shame on you! i have therefore decided to step down as leader of the council as soon as a successor is in place.

we wantjustice! the community is strong. the chasm isn't between the community, whether they are rich or poor, it is between them and the state. we lost lives. some people, all their family. more of us have got to spend time there. to walk in the shoes of some of those who are residents. what i want to ensure is that the grenfell united residents and others locally are given the support that they need following this terrible tragedy. the communities are the ones who are going to make sure that everybody has somewhere to go on christmas day. i want to spend my christmas day with my community because i think after this year, after what we have been through this year,

i think that is the only way we can heal is with each other. exactly. six months on from the fire and understandably, emotions are incredibly raw. the anger and betrayal at the local council's response to the fire is as strong as ever. many families made homeless are going to be spending christmas in a hotel room. rukshama mamudu and 12—year—old old grandson, tyrshondre, are here. they escaped from the first floor. we have followed their story on our programme. hamid wahbi was the only one in his flat on the 16th floor during the fire. we will speak to him in a moment. he helped his neighbours escape. good morning. how are you? thank you for talking to us. tell me how you are feeling about today.|j for talking to us. tell me how you are feeling about today. i feel happy for being alive and i feel

happy for being alive and i feel happy for being able to bear what is happening around me and my son. when you are inside in the memorial service, what will you be thinking about? i will be praising god and praying for those who died in the tower and praying for us to be able tower and praying for us to be able to be settled quickly and happy because. what to be settled quickly and happy what will you be thinking about today today? still thinking about g re nfell tower. today today? still thinking about grenfell tower. what does the national service mean to you this morning? six months on, i am not sure. still hard, isn't it? yeah.

how would you say you are, six months on? i am 0k. how would you say you are, six months on? i am ok. we have to go through these things, if it is god's wish and god will see us through it. iam happy wish and god will see us through it. i am happy to come and say thanks to god, very happy to come and say thanks to god for sparing our lives. we have followed both of you since that day. you are still in a hotel. you now have two rooms, understand, as opposed to one room. how are you feeling about that?|j as opposed to one room. how are you feeling about that? i feel bad about it but on the contrary, i have to look at my other survivors and to give them encouragement by making them feel, it is not the end of our

lives, we will get over it. and by the grace of god, we will all be all right. i spoke to a gentleman called paul earlier who also escape from the tower and he said today was important for him in that it was bringing you all together and you are now scattered in various places, living in different parts of the borough and elsewhere, would you agree with that, it is important to get together? it is very, very important. all went through the same hell of fire and when we were all coming out, some of us were in the hospital, we still visited one another because to me, that tower was, like, a multicultural gathering of people and we were very friendly and very close. very close. and what are you thinking as you approach christmas with your 12—year—old

grandson and the fact you will be still in the hotel? we make do with what we have. that is what we have. we cannot go to the town hall and forced them to give us what they don't have. according to them, they are doing their best. the only thing ido are doing their best. the only thing i do not like its promises upon promises. you know you cannot do it, why promise? lifting our hopes and letting us down. very wrong. at the end of the day, they finish work and they go home to their comfortable homes. i am they go home to their comfortable homes. iam not they go home to their comfortable homes. i am not saying they are not thinking about us, maybe there are some handicaps, there should be a better way of handling the situation. i am going to bring in hamid. iwill situation. i am going to bring in hamid. i will in a moment, i situation. i am going to bring in hamid. iwill in a moment, i beg your pardon. you told us the last time we spoke that you continued to wa ke

time we spoke that you continued to wake up in the middle of the night thinking about what happened on the 1ath ofjune. does that still happen? four days ago, i tripped over. . . happen? four days ago, i tripped over... it is something that will be there for a while, until we have a roof over our heads, all of us, there will not be any closure. even if we go for this therapy, if there is no roof for us to call, this is my home, there will not be any closure. when do you think that will be? it depends on the authority. but at this stage, i think the prime minister should try to step in because we are really being abused, is the word. why do you say that? we do not have our self—respect anymore. no dignity. no pride.

nothing. no privacy. we have lost it all. six months, this is supposed to be great britain, not africa. even in africa, this would not happen anymore. thank you very much for talking to us. thank you very much for coming on our programme again. that night, as the flames spread across grenfell tower, people in nearby pubs, churches and community centres opened their doors to help look after some of the survivors who had escaped. in the days that followed, those places turned into volunteering centres, the nearby tabernacle christian centre was one of those places. six months on, our reporter went to catch up on the work still being done. we still serving the survivors

because are still coming. we have the clothes here and also other donations given to us. what is going on over there? the salvation army is in partnership with us and they have given out vouchers for winter clothing. we have been in touch over the weekend with the survivors, booking appointments. for vouchers. quite a few have been asking for winter clothes, codes, scarves, gloves. here we have clothes, most of these was summer clothes, but we have winter clothes among them. we have winter clothes among them. we have toiletries, nappies. this site, we have clothing for males, trousers and other items the survivors will go through. what is in this gazebo? this is where we store the food that

has been donated from supermarkets and now some of the nonperishable foods which have been donated by stores like waitrose and sainsbury‘s and tesco so graciously. did you think six months on since the fire, in the lead up to christmas, that you would still be here with your church being the donation centre for survivors? absolutely not. we thought all the survivors by then would have been housed. the majority of survivors are still in hotels. we are here for the long run, as long as the survivors need us. they are still coming. they come for support, comfort, prior. peoplejust want still coming. they come for support, comfort, prior. people just want to come and talk. —— prayers. especially when you adjust up in a hotel. some are very depressed. coming here, they find solitude and

comfort. -- especially when you are still in a hotel. let us talk to pasta derek. we broadcast from your church, you kindly invited us in five weeks after the fire —— pastor derek. how would you assess how the community is? there is still a lot of grieving, a lot of anger among the survivors. one of the main problem is the accommodation. apartments that have been bought and yet there are only i think a2 that are in temporary accommodation but yet apartments have been bought, so iam yet apartments have been bought, so i am wondering why they are not being housed. we spoke to the leader of the council earlier on and she said it ta kes council earlier on and she said it takes time to re—carpet and

‘b‘amuiiigé «7 7 ‘fm'l'%f zeiffawhich 7—— fa":- you 75 fa":- you cannot leg. gziizzz’;zzzz;§ ‘ life gziizzz’;zzzz;§ ‘life in gziizzz’;zzzz;§ ‘ life in temporary your life in temporary accommodation. i understand the logistics. 300 apartments are bought. we have 210 families. we know there are enough accommodation for each and every one of them. you are bewildered by the fact that people are not in permanent accommodation yet. six months in a hotel with children, some of them are disabled. depression has set in. did you say depression? absolute depression. these survivors of traumatised. some are not receiving the counselling they should be

receiving. we have over 100 families coming in through our doors, wanting items under nations, as well as support and comfort. we are doing our bit as the church to serve these people. do you think the impact of what happened that night in the allows of the morning will be felt for generations to come in the community? this has changed the face of north kensington. we were told some time ago, i think it was 11,000 people who had been affected because of g re nfell tower. people who had been affected because of grenfell tower. it is a colossal amount of people. how do you go about trying to counsel and support the community that is traumatised? again, we mustjust tried to work with the council to make things a lot easierfor the with the council to make things a lot easier for the survivors to move on in their lives. thank you for

talking to us again. thank you very much, pastor derek. we're going to talk to many more people in the next hour and talk to many more people in the next hourand a talk to many more people in the next hour and a half of we head towards the memorial service which begins at 11 o'clock. coverage of that on bbc one. time for the latest news. here'sjulian. a memorial service is being held at st paul's cathedral this morning for the victims and survivors of the grenfell tower fire in west london. 71 people were killed when the fire tore through the tower block, six months ago today. members of the royal family, including prince charles and the duke and duchess of cambridge will be among the 1,500 people who are expected to attend. theresa may is due at a summit in brussels, hours after conservative rebels in the commons defeated the government in a key brexit vote. mps backed an amendment giving them a legal guarantee of a vote on the final brexit deal struck with brussels. a third person has been charged with the murder of four children

who died in a fire at a house in salford, in greater manchester, on monday. the 25—year—old man who's from the area has also been charged with attempted murder and arson. the medical charity, msf, says it believes more than six and a half thousand rohingya muslims were killed in the violence that began in myanmar in late august. the estimate is based on interviews with some of the 600,000 rohingyas who've fled to neighbouring bangladesh. that's a summary of the latest bbc news. let's get some sport with hugh woozencroft. england's batsmen have made a positive start to the third ashes test at the waca. dawid malan is closing in on a century, with jonny bairstow also at the crease past his half century. england now 276 for a. midfielder david silva inspired manchester city to a record 15th straight premier league win — a—nil at swansea. manchester united won in second but arsenal were held at west ham. four—time tour de france champion chris froome insists his legacy

will not be tainted, after he was found to have twice the allowed level of a legal asthma drug in his urine. they now want more details from team sky. katie taylor from they now want more details from team sky. katie taylorfrom ireland had to be at her very best as she defended her lightweight title with a unanimous points decision over the american. that is all the sport for now. we will be back with more after ten o'clock. good morning. this morning, we are live from st paul's cathedral ahead of a memorial service for the victims of the grenfell tower fire. the chair of one of the residents' association's said, "the memorial is a chance for us all to come together and remember what happened. the people in grenfell tower were forgotten about and ignored before the fire and this is a chance for people across the country to unite and stand with us." let's talk now to antonio roncolato escaped with his 26—year—old son,

christopher, from the 10th floor. hamid wahbi was the only one in his flat on the 16th floor during the fire. he helped his neighbours escape. they're telling their stories to you today for the first time. also with us, clarrie mendy, who lost her cousin mary and mary's 2a—year—old daughter, artist khadije saye. thank you so much for talking to us on this day. the idea for this national service, and i can see you are upset already, and i'm really sorry for your loss. this idea came to you in the summer, didn't it? yes, it came to me a few days after... after the fire. i went to mess “— after... after the fire. i went to mess —— westminster to seejoan sinclairand

mess —— westminster to seejoan sinclair and ask that we have a national service as soon as possible. i think this is what the community need, the survivors need, the bereaved families need. wejust wa nt to the bereaved families need. wejust want to know we are not alone and there is support for us. today, as we will see, it is a day of people coming and consolidating with us in solidarity. it is a very emotional day. i was here yesterday. the rehearsals were beautiful. there is something for everybody. we are a big family. not many of us are here to represent, due to the restriction of the tickets, which is a shame. here we are. ijust hope everybody will get something from it. as i said, healing. i know the words that bishop and the canon have gone out of their way. i wanted to show that

adversity of multicultural 21st—ce ntu ry adversity of multicultural 21st—century britain and represent all the different religious groups of the tower taking it into perspective with our cultures as well. there is a wonderful mix to this. a lot of people will get some healing today for them as i said, you can see i am crying already. people have had all of this for so long not knowing where we stand. we have had meetings with the council. it has been excused after excuse. we need people to come clean. we don't wa nt need people to come clean. we don't want a hill spread 25 years justice. everyone what happened. —— hillsborough. people need to get on with their lives. people here are morning. they are morning but there

is still a fight. in normal circumstances you can mourn. you have to get up and fight for your survival. the situation with survivors in the hotel is not right. i would not like to be in a hotel with my children at christmas. you can even cook christmas dinner. the whole thing is wrong. the quicker everything is just whole thing is wrong. the quicker everything isjust did —— adjusted it will be for the better. theresa may is in a wonderful position today. we do not have to beg for everything. that is what it is seen to be. the local community is still suffering. nothing has been mentioned about them with the toxins that are in the air. there is a whole neighbourhood will stop it seems nobody cares. today i hope it will not just be seems nobody cares. today i hope it will notjust be a case of words. there need to be strong meanings

behind the words. it needs to be meaningful with no platitudes. behind the words. it needs to be meaningfulwith no platitudes. not just pretty words, we want affirmation. do you understand? knowing where we stand for the we're not revolutionaries, it is just standing upfor our not revolutionaries, it is just standing up for our rights, basic rights, especially in the wake of a human public tragedy. there should be more sympathy and empathy. we would like to recent me as the government to adopt this charter thatis government to adopt this charter that is recommended by bishopjames john after the hillsborough disaster to save bereaved families this pain and anguish. let me bring in antonio and anguish. let me bring in antonio and how meet —— hameed. people will have experience grief but the way it is described, you are not only grieving, you are having to fight

for survival. for respect, grieving, you are having to fight forsurvival. for respect, daily existence. what would you say about that? it is the big day today. today we have to concentrate on thinking about the people who are no longer with us and support the people who have lost their beloved ones. i would say, for one day, we leave all the politics and stuff like this on the politics and stuff like this on the side and we get close. a group of people as a community and be together and show to the public that we are here to help each other. we wa nt we are here to help each other. we want to raise awareness for the public that this cannot happen again in the future. never, ever. are you able to put politics to one side?” am here today to share all my feelings with everybody. we are very lucky to be here today. we never

thought we were going to make it but we are here. i was living with my mum, who is 90. she is still at the hotel. she is not well. i did knock at the door this morning at six o'clock and she said she cannot make it. i was expecting her to come with me. we are going to go and share our feelings with everybody inside will stop what will be at the forefront of your mind as the service is going on, hamid? we are going to go there to let everyone know that we are here. our past has been taken from us here. our past has been taken from us and we need our future. we want to get on with our lives but it is still on hold. everything is still on hold. to find the real trees, you

have to come to the survivors and the bereaved people. that is the only way you're going to find the real things with what is going on. are things on hold with you? personally, things have moved a bit. i have been lucky with my key workers and the housing offices. my case, my son, has moved into temporary accommodation. he has been edgy lately. something good came out. he has a flat. he has moved on. hopefully, all the residents, out. he has a flat. he has moved on. hopefully, allthe residents, orthe other residents and people who have more needs and different requirements than myself. i really feel that this should be moved as quickly as possible before christmas so quickly as possible before christmas so they can move on with their lives. we need things to be sorted

out as soon as possible. people are getting very sick. as i said, not from me, but everything is on hold. we want to get on with our lives. i have been working for all my life i have been working for all my life i have been working for all my life i have been working. it is a matter of sick and here we go. i have seen nothing up to there. can i ask you, hamid, you helped people escape that night... of course. that is my duty. when you think of that now, what comes into your head? last monday or tuesday, we went to the inquiry on monday or tuesday. one guy on my floor, that is the guy i'd told him, where is your dad? he told me my dad is frozen and he cannot walk. i

tried to help his dad and because of the smoke i could not do it when i turned my back i found the guy has gone. he tore me last week i am sorry. i remember when you are trying to get out my dad from the house will stop it is a kind of... our neighbour. we tried to help as much as we can but what can we? what did you say? we do not want to seem what did you say? we do not want to seem like beggars. this is the 21st—century. there is more that can be done, really. another country, we would be put to shame. britain, 21st—ce ntu ry would be put to shame. britain, 21st—century britain, multicultural britain, come on, we need to pull up our socks. step up. we are not champions of the world in this cause, really. ithink

champions of the world in this cause, really. i think the government needs to step up asap. we're not going to turn revolutionaries overnight, but we do not want our hearts to be turned to stone. i want to see joy. my pain is your pain. my pain is even the people looking at that tower every day still breathing, what about the g re nfell day still breathing, what about the grenfell cough and the droopy eyes? this needs to be addressed. help us, sos. people think very differently about us, people from grenfell tower. we are not benefit street. self—employed. tower. we are not benefit street. self-employed. i have people working for me, now they are not working, i am not working, i am for me, now they are not working, i am not working, lam not for me, now they are not working, i am not working, i am not signing on, lam am not working, i am not signing on, i am working my life. people have to understand. we have plenty of educated people there and we are not

begging or asking for a favour, this is not a favour, this is a very serious situation and it needs to be sorted out as soon as possible. fast tracked. after six months... disgusting. inside, there will be 1500 people, royals, political leaders, yourselves, members of the community, members of the emergency servitors, representatives. what do you say to them? -- emergency services. thank you for supporting us. services. thank you for supporting us. they have compassion for us. do not just us. they have compassion for us. do notjust come... make sure when you leave here, your moral conscience will maybe be further moving you to do something asap. there is a lot that could have been done. we did not have to go to six months. what has moved? not have to go to six months. what has moved ? maybe not have to go to six months. what has moved? maybe a few people have

been... i would has moved? maybe a few people have been... iwould not has moved? maybe a few people have been... i would not so lucky. fortunate. people have suffered worse than our sun they deserve to be sorted out. —— worse than us. some are sick and traumatised. they are out of work. we were inside the fire. what about the people watching from outside and the fire brigade who came inside to help us? i met with them on the 16th floor, they are suffering. post-traumatic stress, if we do not address this, there will be psychosis soon. let us help each other. come on. it is a matter of that we want to go and have our life. we will start from zero, move on, we do not want to get stuck. looks like we were just putting us on hold. life keeps going on. thank you. solidarity... i can

see that, i can feel that. she on. thank you. solidarity... i can see that, i can feelthat. she has been amazing. thank you so much. thank you. he was going to come here... wahid. it will be a lovely service. let us hope we can have a merry christmas and a beautiful home for you and your mother and your children, that is what i wish him and his 90—year—old mother. if there is such a thing as father christmas, bring him on. i did well, sending the normal way. —— sending my bring him on. i did well, sending the normalway. —— sending my mum away. the last ten days of ramadan,

i wasjust going to away. the last ten days of ramadan, i was just going to travel to saudi arabia, the following day, after the fire, but i am still here. we are running out of time. thank you so much. you can clearly see the love, the solidarity, the strength they get from each other, if not from people in authority. as you know, 71 people in authority. as you know, 71 people died in the fire. for each victim, there are several relatives and friends trying to adjust to life without their loved one, six months on. we've invited some of them to pay tribute using their own words. here are the letters written by three loved ones to victims of the grenfell fire. um, my name is clarrie mendy. i'm a cousin to the late mary ajaoi mendy and khadija ellen saye. so, i'm kenita and this

is my uncle, gary maunders. my name is ben gabbitas and my relationship to sheila is friend, soul partner, and she was my mother in spirit, is the way i like to describe it. when people remember mary ajaoi mendy and khadija ellen saye, they may remember grenfell towers and how they died. when we think of them, we think of the amazing flow of love. gary, you are our uncle, a kind, caring, loving person. we loved you like an older brother.

we had a bond because we was raised in the same household as each other. you were very charming and had an old—fashioned nature about you. well, sheila, that was quite a dash. you always said it was about the journey and not the destination but no one, but no one, foresaw this as the destination. mary was an amazing woman, full of life. she was kind to everybody. and everybody was welcome at her home. you always went out of your way to help those that needed it, especially the older generation. you would say, "good morning, darling", and would help them with their shopping bags or trolleys. most of us all loved mary. and most of all, she loved us all. you often said of stabbed teenagers and young people killed, "have you ever noticed, ben, they always seem to take the good ones, the ones with so much light?"

so here it was, you, too, and 70 lights taken that day. you couldn't find another like you. a rare, unique within your own right. to call you a chatterbox would be an understatement. you would talk our ears off for hours but you were extremely funny, wise and knowledgeable, too. when we think of khadija, we remember her smile, which lit up a room. we remember her soft voice. we remember her telling us to take it easy. we remembera niece, our cousin, our sister and a friend. one of your great lessons you taught me was to see the good that can come out of bad. this, then, will be a challenge like no other. words cannot describe the pain in our hearts. we don't even know how to mend a heart that is

broken beyond repair. you loved your mother and your children dearly. you would always check on them daily to see if they were all right, and to say that you love them. nanny wants you to know that you were a lovely son. sorry, i need to stop. our hearts bleed with sadness at your passing. god took you because he saw your heart and he knew how special you were. khadija, you were truly more than a billion. auntie mary, for the first time in my life, you are not there. you're not a phone call away or a train journey away. passing in your sleep, we do not know for sure, but i hope to god your guides and angels kept you from the roar. you wanted the best for everyone and always told the younger children

of the family to behave and do well in school. nanny wants you to know that you were a lovely son and you had a heart of gold. we truly miss you. it was a massive chunk of our hearts that have been ripped out of us. we don't know how we can continue as a family. or how, as a family, we can ever heal from this. our hearts will continue to bleed for you both. to say thank you for all you did seems like some huge understatement. sometimes, there is no words to describe such feelings. you will always be remembered and cared for in your memory. i will miss our long telephone conversations, ourtrips to limburg and meera, cornwall and around the country. i, betty, cry every night foryou, mary and khadija.

all the advice you gave me and my children will stay with us for the rest of our lives. so now it has to be a project in your name that i must see through, friend, soul partner, and mother in spirit, too. we hope you are at peace and continue up in heaven doing what you do best. forever loved. we will carry on and we will carry you wherever we go. your spirit will live through us. we will always love you. you were special and a special place will always remain in our hearts. letters to loved ones from clarrie mendy,

kenita spence and ben gabbitas. extraordinarily powerful, very, very moving. in an hour's time at st paul's, the national memorial service will begin for the victims of their grenfell tower fire, many residents are arriving already, wandering up the front steps of st paul's, members of the emergency services arriving too to take their places inside the grand building of st paul's. this man lived with his wife, daughter and steps in on the 15th floor of the power and we are grateful you are talking to us before you go inside —— and stepson on the 15th floor of the tower. who will you be paying tribute to today? everyone, all my neighbours, all my beloved neighbours who we lost that

night. i want just beloved neighbours who we lost that night. i wantjust to say to them, i am sorry. we didn't save you. i am sorry we didn't know what was happening around us. i am sorry we we re happening around us. i am sorry we were inside and we didn't know what was going on really. do you feel guilt about that? yeah. we didn't know. we were inside, we didn't know. we were inside, we didn't know. we were inside, we didn't know. we didn't know what was going on around the building. but what i believe, they are in the hand of god. i believe what happened we will never forget and i from this god. i believe what happened we will neverforget and ifrom this —— god. i believe what happened we will neverforget and i from this —— and i promise all my life i will do the best of me to get things better and

better in the right way. i will never change my thoughts, i will never change my thoughts, i will never forget, never change my thoughts, i will neverforget, and never change my thoughts, i will never forget, and it never change my thoughts, i will neverforget, and it isjust... how i feel, it shouldn't happen, neverforget, and it isjust... how ifeel, it shouldn't happen, but what i am feeling right now is... how come we didn't know? how come when i came out that night from the building, i looked up at the building, i looked up at the building, i looked up at the building, i realised, there are people inside. that moment, it was... it is notjust pain, i can't even speak. no, tremendous hurt, tremendous grief. i want to say sorry to them. i believe they are standing now by the side of god and

i believe... i believe he will help us i believe... i believe he will help us to getjustice done and i believe we will make them proud and i believe we will make them happy, they are looking at us and seeing us and they feel us and i believe standing altogether to get things right, to make it right, and to secure everything in the right way and this is what i believe. that is your promise. this is my promise. you know, on that day, i loved someone you know, on that day, i loved someone behind me, i left steve behind me, i did not know he was on the flat, he passed away that night. the same floor. until now, i feel very bad. on the same floor. until now, i feel very bad for the neighbours. they used to open the door to me, say hello to me, the children... it is massive. something

we cannot forget. we witnessed. i wish for the family, my neighbour, theirfamily, to i wish for the family, my neighbour, their family, to keep i wish for the family, my neighbour, theirfamily, to keep going, to keep theirfamily, to keep going, to keep the faith, to keep themselves strong. we will support them. we will be together on this until we get that done properly. thank you very much. i know you have to go inside. we appreciate your time this morning thank you for talking to us. it is ten o'clock. hello. this morning, we're at st paul's cathedral where members of the royal family and the prime minister will join families of victims of the grenfell tower fire for a memorial service, six months after the devastating fire which killed 71 people. this morning survivors of the fire

have been telling us why the service is so important to them. it's about remembering the people, my neighbours, my family. it's about remembering the people i used to help get their shopping in the lifts. it's also about bringing the people who survived together. it is about getting the chance to see my neighbours for the first time in some while. six months on and the pain of those suffering is plain to see. we do not have self—respect anymore. no dignity. no pride. no prissy. we have lost it all. six months. —— previously. this is supposed to be great britain. the service will give

thanks to everybody who assisted on the ground at the time and since. including emergency services, the community, public support workers and volunteers. it has changed the face of north kensington. we were told some time ago in 11,000 people have been affected because of the g re nfell tower have been affected because of the grenfell tower incident. it is a colossal amount of people. how do you go about trying to counsel and support a community that is traumatised? here's julian worricker with a summary of today's news. a memorial service is being held for the victims of the grenfell tower fire. members of the royal family,

including prince charles and the duke and duchess of cambridge wobbly among the 1500 people who are expected to attend. —— will be among. the metropolitan police commissioner said herforceful among. the metropolitan police commissioner said her forceful do whatever it takes to bring to justice anyone committing criminal offences in the fire. my officers are doing everything in their power to do a professional and thorough investigation. they want to do this as well as we possibly can, to give people the answers to the questions that they have. theresa may is due at a summit in brussels, hours after conservative rebels in the commons defeated the government in a key brexit vote. mps backed an amendment giving them a legal guarantee of a vote on the final brexit deal struck with brussels. one rebel, stephen hammond, was sacked by the prime minister as a party vice chairman in the aftermath of the vote. a third person has been charged with the murder of four children who died in a fire at a house in salford, in greater

manchester, on monday. the 25—year—old man who's from the area has also been charged with attempted murder and arson. the medical charity, msf, says it believes more than 6,500 rohingya muslims were killed in the violence that began in myanmar in late august. the estimate is based on interviews with some of the 600,000 rohingyas who've fled to neighbouring bangladesh. the burmese armed forces have stated that about four hundred people died, describing most of them as muslim terrorists. that's a summary of the latest bbc news. sport now with hugh woozencroft. the crucial third ashes test has begun at the waca in perth with england needing to avoid defeat to keep their hopes of retaining the urn alive. having won the toss, england lost

key men. jonny bairstow pass the 75 mark. england ending the day on 305-a. the four—time tour de france champion chris froome has told the bbc he understands people will be cynical but insists his legacy won't be tainted, after it emerged he had double the allowed level of a legal asthma drug in his urine following a test during the vuelta de espana, which he won, in september. cycling's world governing body, the uci, wants more details from the team but froome has not been suspended. manchester city have extended their winning premier league run to a record breaking 15 games. all the football stories on the bbc sport website and app. good morning from st paul's, where the grenfell community, along with prince charles and camilla, prince william and kate and prince harry, are all coming together to remember those loved ones who died

in the fire at grenfell, exactly six months today. it is going to be incredibly poignant. be music from different communities, a steel band. the seats are filling up a steel band. the seats are filling up inside. by 11 o'clock there will be 1500 people inside. the royals are due to arrive just before 11am for the will tell —— before 11am. and we'll bring it to you live at 11. we can speak now to david lammy, the labour mp for tottenham. he's campaigned on behalf of residents in north kensington. one of his friends, the artist, khadije saye, died in the fire. good morning. what does today mean to you? i think it is an appropriate moment for the country, the londoners, to come together to support these families, to remember

those lives and commemorate them and to commit to continuing to ask the important questions on behalf of the victims over the coming months. just a really important moment for the families and survivors. when you think of yourfriend, families and survivors. when you think of your friend, khadije, families and survivors. when you think of yourfriend, khadije, how do you think of her? i think the young woman who had same as to offer her country and the world and her life was cut off. i speak to her father and her family. they life was cut off. i speak to her father and herfamily. they are really focused on those last moments of her life. this is a very poignant moment. in politics i am meant to be a bit sort of objective. i guess in relation to grenfell tower, because i knew someone who died, i am pretty engaged and pretty involved. i don't

know if i am pretty objective, i am subjective about the manner of her death. where do you think the community is six months on? you will have viewers who have experienced grief. they know the aftermath of greece comes in stages. there is shock and bewilderment. —— grief. then you get a lot of anger and then you get despairing depression. that has really crept in for many, many of the victims and families, struggling to come to terms with broken families, some that survived and some that did not. in this situation, a lot of repeat trauma really. the building still stands. it isa really. the building still stands. it is a monument of death and, of course, the aftermath of grenfell tower, the housing situation, the way people felt dealt with by the state has been far from the best of

this country. it is a tough moment forfamilies of this country. it is a tough moment for families of those victims, many of whom i met this week. we will talk about mental health in more detail. it has been such a huge issue and so many people have been affected. let me ask you about the preliminary hearings of the inquiry which began on monday. we heard powerful appeals from lawyers representing the families of victims. for there to be a more representative panel ofjudges. do you agree with that? yes, i do think thatis you agree with that? yes, i do think that is important. in the end we hold these inquiries on behalf of the general public, on behalf of the government and parliament, to get to the important questions and what happened. most importantly on behalf of the families and victims. the families and the victims question that representation. they want to

see a panel member that is reflective of the community. they wa nt to reflective of the community. they want to be more deeply engaged. those who represent them, their lawyers, they feel shutout. there are some real issues on the structure and the process that has been setup. do you have any more faith the inquiry? you have to have faith. it has onlyjust begun. empathy, compassion and humanity mean you have to have faith that it will reach the right answers. it is not an underestimation to say it has not an underestimation to say it has not got off to the best of stops. thank you for talking to us this morning. we appreciate it. i am going to ask you to move back so i can introduce our next guest. ross o'brien is from the mental health and well—being service. mark harris is from the samaritans. clearly,

mental health is a huge issue. actually we can just see emergency services arriving. representatives from the emergency services arriving to walk up the steps of st paul's cathedral to go inside. before the service begins at 11 o'clock. life in the shadow of that blackened tower is a constant struggle, isn't it? it is a constant struggle. every time you go to the area it is shocking that this reminder is a lwa ys shocking that this reminder is always there. it towers over you. you can literally seeing and you are reminded all of the time. —— see in. with events like today, an anniversary always brings everything that happened into even sharper focus than it is anyway. you are talking about mental health issues ona talking about mental health issues on a massive scale, loss on a

massive scale, trauma on a massive scale. the estimate is something like 11,000 people were affected by what happened that night was how many referrals have you had? so far, since the day of the fire we have seen over a since the day of the fire we have seen over a thousand adults referred 200 children referred. and we are reaching out to more every day. we are knocking on doors, turning up at various community centres and faith centres and trying to engage and support the community and be there for them. it is not only people who escaped from the tower, it is people who lived in the surrounding area, people who lived further away than that and saw what happened that night by standing on the ground and feeling helpless. we are starting to see a second wave. the people who supported those people as well were supporting the teachers and supporting the teachers and

supporting others, supporting as many people who were also supporting the people who were initially affected as well. the number of people have talked to me about their depression. they feel they are in a depression. they feel they are in a depression for all sorts of reasons, including the fact they are grieving but also that they are not in a home yet they feel they cannot again to start to rebuild until that happens. how can you help those people? we have seen lots of people who are really keen to engage in therapy. for them, at the moment, it is not quite the right time. you have to get the basic, fundamental needs met. they need a home and finances sorted. that needs to be sorted before they can deal with their mental health? that is one of the things that people keep presenting to us that they are seeking help is that it might not be the right time now. for us it is about being co nsta ntly now. for us it is about being constantly engaged with the

community. it has been an honour to do that. the community has come together really well. they are looking out for each other and supporting each other. they are talking to us about what they want asa talking to us about what they want as a service and we are able to respond to that it is really helpful. what kind of help have you been able to give? for the most part, listening, that is the samaritans service, at the time, it moved from shell shock initially to the sense of loss and starting to process emotions. then we were in some of the hotels. where people were staying. where you are in the reception, waiting for people? were you able to knock on doors? we were in the reception. we worked with the hotel staff, they advertised the service, they knocked on the doors, people came down to us in reception.

more recently, we have been doing training for westminster council staff and others, citizens advice, to say, how do you actively listen to say, how do you actively listen to someone and deal with someone who is angry? how do you deal with someone is angry? how do you deal with someone who is angry, help someone? you are massively respectful to them and you hear what they are saying and you hear what they are saying and you hear what they are saying and you give them time and space and you completely validate everything they are saying and the issue is, for the council staff, they cannot fix things immediately, so it is trying to communicate to someone, this is what we are doing, where we are at currently. it is difficult. what we can do as listening volunteers is hold someone in that space space. as council staff can you have a job to do. space space. as council staff can you have ajob to do. do space space. as council staff can you have a job to do. do you think this is, as a resident said earlier, the impact of what has happened will

be felt for generations, actually? absolutely. if you look at other disasters, there has not really been a similar disaster in the uk on this scale, but if you look at other disasters, the impact is there for generations, looking back to aberfan com you still feel it felt among the aduu com you still feel it felt among the adult population, a traumatic event for children that long ago. we expect there will be an initial massive piece of work in terms of reaching those people, but the community will be affected for such a long time, we will have to be there for them for that period of time. the same for your organisation presumably as well? yeah, completely. you have the physical space, that has to be turned into something, it can only be a memorial garden, that has to be there, people have to be able to go there, and the

service for us is listening, 24 hours a day. when they need to call, it is free, always open. and off—loading as and when you need to, does not matter if it is sam, we know sleep patterns are not normal, people are traits in the streets in the dead of night, phone us up and off— load the dead of night, phone us up and off—load —— the dead of night, phone us up and off—load — — people the dead of night, phone us up and off—load —— people are traipsing the streets. thank you very much, both of you. the grim for health and well—being service and the samaritans, thank you —— the g re nfell samaritans, thank you —— the grenfell health and well—being service. the many heroes of grenfell tower fire will be celebrated today — the emergency services, the firefighters and the community who rallied around together to offer immediate help, support and shelter, and who are still doing so six months on, as noel phillips reports. as people frantically searched for their missing loved ones,

the immediate help they received in the aftermath of the fire was from their community. please stop, just stop. clothes are going here. food only is going here. the atmosphere of solidarity saw thousands unite to mourn with people here. volunteers from across the country and as far as new york came to help in whatever way they could. i lived in new york when the towers came down and it was very... reminiscent of that. just generally, you want to help. you want to do whatever you can. i've got a week off and i willjust give my time to do what needs doing. thanks to the community, we are managing. millions of pounds were also raised to support survivors. clothing, bedding and food poured into local warehouses, churches, mosques and community centres. there were muslim people donating to churches. i was one of them.

there were christian people donating to, you know, mosques, knowing whatever is easy and closer. the lights went off in the staircase as well. as local residents tried to piece their lives back together, a royal visit and thank you from the queen and prince william to volunteers. # i don't know where to begin so i'll start by saying # i refuse to forget you...#. as well as their generosity, celebrities also offered to help. # for every last soul in grenfell, even though # i never even met you...#. a charity single was released to raise money for those affected. this is gemma. she's the mother of the actor and director noel clarke, who was born just 100 yards from grenfell tower. he returned to his local community to help search for the missing. that night, gemma watched from her kitchen as the building was on fire. this is the side i've seen.

i haven't seen nothing else. i've only seen this side. the blaze going up and down. and it burned that way, like a v. that's how it burned. it did not go across. and i watched that. what was that like? sad. and i saw someone was crying, was waving out the window. but i heard he got out and he was partially blind or something. it was sad. it was hard work and i cried. i couldn't do anything, but i just watched. i have never seen something in my life like that. i wouldn't like to see something again like that. for gemma, who has lived here since 1987, the memories of what she witnessed remains an open wound. until this day, she refuses to talk about what she saw with anyone, including her own son. at the beginning, we talked about it, but not now. no. i don't talk about it again.

every time he comes to see me, we look at it and we think of it but i don't talk about it. i don't talk about it with anyone, to be honest. this community still bears the scars of what happened here on the 1ath ofjune. like many people, i was here in the aftermath of the fire and sawjust how desperate people were, searching for their missing loved ones and sticking photos and posters on the walls. but now people want their lives back. they want normality. most of all, they want justice. niles is one of the many people in the community providing psychological support to survivors. he runs this centre with volunteers. despite their grief, niles says he is starting to see some small signs of progress for many of these vulnerable

people he sees daily. as a community, we're moving on. in the initial stages, it was people like ourselves in the community who was doing those services when nobody else was around. it is now nearly six months afterwards. and there are still people we see every day who are going through the same problems they was going through five months ago, six months ago, four months ago. it is not changing. since escaping the 20th floor with her partner, luke, emma says she is now haunted by nightmares and flashbacks. when you can't sleep, then when you do sleep, you have the nightmare, even worse, and you're even worse than when you started. they are such horrible things to go back to. are people united, despite what has happened? they seem to be very united around the area. we have still got loads of messages on the walls and fences,

which i think is really great. from different faiths as well, it's been amazing to view. seven british nationals from the ethiopian community lost their lives in grenfell tower. hashim, his wife, daughter and two sons never made it out. i spoke to him until the 46 one, that is the last word, the last one, he said, "my daughter, she is on fire", and dropped the phone, and just ran. he grabs. i don't know the end. the phone went dead. that is what got stuck in your head? yes, it's there. whenjohnny moved to the uk from ethiopia 17 years ago, he met hashim in this area and they became best friends. he is a guy to have a laugh. here's a guy that you smile. and just a kind of, i don't know... i can't express it. he is a guy, hejust, he is one of the nicest guys to meet. if you meet him, you would

understand, it is hard to express what kind of person he is. even the kids and his wife as well, just such amazing people there. in the shadow of what remains of grenfell on bramley road, i meet theresa, who has lived opposite the tower for over 30 years. she comes here every day to ensure memorials are looked after. i don't want them to be forgotten and it looks like it is being forgotten. it's yesterday's news, and 71 people more died that night. 71 people, the highest concentration in peacetime britain. and no more, nothing has been heard of it. six months down the line, everything is, you know... and i don't want that to happen. i don't want them to be forgotten. they were our community, they were our hope for the future. there were some very bright sparks in that fire, such clever, clever people,

young girls and boys played a big part in the community. out of the smoke and sadness of this tragedy was the response of volunteers, which could not have been more different to that of politicians. as they struggled to respond to this disaster, people in this west london community rallied together to help their friends and neighbours who were desperately in need of help. noel phillips reporting on how the g re nfell noel phillips reporting on how the grenfell community have played such an important role in the relief effort, a remarkable role, actually. this morning, we're broadcasting live from st paul's cathedral ahead of the national memorial service to grenfell which begins at 11am. political leaders will be arriving, including the prime minister. the

service is being held today following a request from survivors and families who wanted a national moment, a time to bring the nation together to remember those who lost their lives. to show solidarity with their lives. to show solidarity with the breathed the survivors and also to give thanks to everyone who helped on the ground at the time of the tragedy and since, including emergency services, the recovery team, the community response, public support, and all the hundreds of volunteers. remember, they came from all over the country. they helped in the days after the fire. the prince of wales will be here in half an hour. the duke and duchess of cambridge and prince harry are going to arrive just before 11am. the prime minister is due in the next half an hour as well. the chair of g re nfell half an hour as well. the chair of grenfell united described the service like this, december the 1ath will be a special day for the community, we are coming together to

remember their loved ones we lost in the fire, to unite as a community and to start to build hope for the future. we hope we can come together asa future. we hope we can come together as a nation and show our support to the bereaved families, the survivors of the tower and the community. the service will be multi—faith, there will also be a sound montage of anonymous real voices from the community. right now, viewers on bbc two are leaving us and we're continuing our coverage on the bbc news channel. the service will involve music from a steel band, from the salvation army and an islamic girls choir and the st paul's cathedral choir. it promises to be very moving and also very powerful. after a brief address from the bishop of kensington, breed families and survivors will leave the cathedral together through the

great west door. —— bereaved. in silence and holding white roses. time for the latest news. here'sjulian. a memorial service is being held at st paul's cathedral this morning for the victims and survivors of the grenfell tower fire in west london. people have begun arriving for the ceremony which will commemorate the 71 people who were killed when the fire tore through the tower block, six months ago today. members of the royal family, including prince charles and the duke and duchess of cambridge, will be among the 1,500 people who are expected to attend. theresa may is due at a summit in brussels, hours after conservative rebels in the commons defeated the government in a key brexit vote. mps backed an amendment giving them a legal guarantee of a vote on the final brexit deal struck with brussels. one rebel, stephen hammond, was sacked by the prime minister as a party vice chairman in the aftermath of the vote. a third person has been charged with the murder of four children who died in a fire at a house

in salford, in greater manchester, on monday. the 25—year—old man who's from the area has also been charged with attempted murder and arson. the medical charity, msf, says it believes more than 6,500 rohingya muslims were killed in the violence that began in myanmar in late august. the estimate is based on interviews with some of the 600,000 rohingyas who've fled to neighbouring bangladesh. the hollywood actor salma hayek has become the latest celebrity to accuse harvey weinstein of harassment. in an article for the new york times, she wrote that the film producer threatened to kill her and described him as a "rage fuelled monster". a spokesperson for mr weinstein disputed the actor's account. british doctors say they've made a significant break—through in the treatment of haemophilia a. around 2,000 people in the uk have the genetic defect which means their blood cannot clot properly. the research team at barts health nhs trust and queen mary university of london used gene therapy

to correct the defect in a small safety trial. all of the 13 patients who took part no longer need treatment. the health secretary, jeremy hunt, says the nhs in england will become the first healthcare system in the world to publish the numbers of deaths of patients caused by problems with their care. most nhs trusts in england will publish the data on avoidable deaths by the end of this year, with the rest to follow soon after. it's estimated up to 9,000 people die each year because of problems orfailings in nhs care. that's a summary of the latest bbc news. you can hear the bells of st paul's. it is half now before the national

memorial service begins. members of the medical emergency services heading into the cathedral now. around 1500 people will be filling the cathedral. they are obviously survivors, relatives of those who died. many, many members of the g re nfell tower died. many, many members of the grenfell tower community in kensington. leaders and representatives of different faiths and the emergency services. let's bring you the latest sport now. a century from dawid malan has helped england as they ended day one on 305—a. david silva inspired manchester city to 15th straight premier league win. arsenal were held by west ham. chris froome has

said his legacy will not be tainted afterwards found he had more than the legal amount of asthma drug in his you're in. katie taylor said she had to be a best as she defended her lightweight title with a unanimous points victory over the americans with jessica mcaskill. points victory over the americans withjessica mcaskill. that is all the sport you can get the best of the sport you can get the best of the details on the website and the app. thank you. the national memorial service for g re nfell tower the national memorial service for grenfell tower here at st paul's it begins at 11 o'clock. at about five to 11 will be crossing to michelle hussain, who will guide you through the service will stop many more arrivals going onto the steps of st paul's. what you probably cannot see is the number of armed police officers and sniffer dogs. there is, as you would expect, a decent police presence in order to make people

feel secure. there is the bishop of kensington, graham tomlin, greeting guests as they arrive on the steps. he was telling us earlier it was really important for him that he will give a short address during the service. it was really important for him to bring people together and talk not only about those who died, to remember those who died, and also talk about hope for the future, which he acknowledged was challenging when you consider the circumstances those who survived still find themselves in. it is an illustration again today, talking to people from grenfell tower, showing you the dramatic effects that are continuing on the close—knit community and the wider community around the tower as welcome at those who lost relatives injune, the long journey to rebuild and recover is only just journey to rebuild and recover is onlyjust beginning for salmond has not started for others. with me here is fatima mohamed,

a mum of four who lived at the base of the tower and lost a close friend in the fire. and linda magistris who runs a bereavement charity the good grief trust. thanks to both of you for talking to us thanks to both of you for talking to us today. fatima, you lived in a walkway near the tower. and you have sought help from the charity. how has she been able to help? linda is a really amazing person. she does a lot of work. she is so amazing. i had a pampering day, my nails done and make up. it was so nice of her. iam more and make up. it was so nice of her. i am more calm as it helped me to relax. what effect do you think seeing the fire that night has had on you and your children?” seeing the fire that night has had on you and your children? ijust felt so stressed. it was so hard. i

didn't know if i could have myself or my children. i was so lost. and i met somebody like linda and i attended some activities. it was just so nice. it was something... i cannot describe how good i felt afterwards. linda, semi-people have been affected. tell us about some of the work you have been doing on the ground. i lost my partner three years ago to cancer. i had a really difficult time trying to find support. we have launched a trust bringing all the baru and services together under a new website. we have over 530 organisations. people in the cathedral here who have lost somebody can find local support that is targeted at them but we are all different. we all need something different. we all need something different when we are grieving. that is why our trust is able to help people across our country. we are

hoping that what we can do is launch a new initiative so that anybody who leaves hospital or hospice or goes through traumatic grief fatima's family can find support very quickly. the support at the time of deathis quickly. the support at the time of death is key to moving forward. tell us death is key to moving forward. tell us what today means to you. death is key to moving forward. tell us what today means to youm death is key to moving forward. tell us what today means to you. it is a sad day. i am remembering everything, remembering my friend who died in the fire. yesterday, i took my son to a clinic to see one of the mental health team doctors. we were so sad to know my son was not able to talk about it to me that he could to the doctor. i felt really sad, to be honest. thank you both for coming onto the programme. clearly, for the surviving residents of grenfell,

their lives changed forever six months ago. everything they knew was turned upside in those few horrific hours. our reporter ashleyjohn baptiste has been talking to some of those affected to hear how what their life was like before. so, hiya. my name is paul menacer. i lived in flat 33 grenfell tower, on the sixth floor, and i was living and caring for my sick uncle. i'm mrs mamudu. i lived in grenfell tower with tyrshondre petralias, my grandson. i'd definitely say life wasn't amazing, but i'd say life was ok. i never felt i lacked anything in that tower. i was happy. i was working, playing football, being very social with my friends, going out, doing things that any other 22 year old would do at the time. around this time last year, we moved into grenfell tower from wandsworth, with tyrshondre. and we were just busy settling down,

settling down in grenfell tower. it was always, i mean, a good sort of vibe to be around. lovely community, lovely environment. everybody in the tower was so friendly and welcoming. it was a very good place to actually be in, actually grow up around. i felt like it was home. in 2010, i lost my mum and my dad in the space of three months. my mum had a brain tumour. and my dad had a heart attack, and i came home and ifound him dead. i feel like, in a sense, cursed by all this. that out of every tower block in this country,

it had to be that one that goes up infire. six months on since the grenfell tower fire, paul and i have come to revisit what remains of the block. what's it like just walking back to the tower? it brings back memories... it brings back memories of, er, every day, i used to, like, do things on a day—to—day basis like going to football, going to work and stuff like that. but itjust looks so much more quiet than how it used to be around here. it's like a ghost town sort of thing when you look at it. i was fast asleep and i woke up to the sounds of screaming from people. and obviously, knowing the procedure for the building was stay in your flat, i didn't take too much notice of it. so i started coughing quite a lot. so i said to myself, i have to go downstairs. so then i literally went down the stairwell. i get down to the bottom and as soon as i go out of the building, i looked up. and then from the third floor all the way up to the 2ath floor, on one side, it was covered in black smoke. covered in flames.

i could seep dead bodies that, obviously, i could tell had probably jumped off the building to try and escape the fire. seeing the fire rise and going into people's flats and the screaming that i heard that night in particular, it's just so traumatic. but, yeah, i think the best word to describe it would be lifeless. lifeless ? yeah. this grenfell tower fire is worse than losing my mum and my dad. people that you meet on a day—to—day basis, people you make friends with in the lift, you don't know if they passed away or not. i mean, memories that i've had in that flat, gone. it was those memories that led him to go back to the tower last month with police supervision to collect items from his flat that survived the fire. i had to literally force myself to go back in there. and the only reason why i went back in there was because of this jewellery box. and that's the only thing left i've got of my mum, and her pictures that were actually inside of it.

can we see what's inside? of course you can. so that's one of the ones that were actually completely damaged, but i still took it. from the water damage of the flat. it's my mum's grave. so that's like me and my mum there. when she was pretty. —— pretty ill. this is a picture that means a lot to me and i'm really glad that i got the chance to go back in there and have, keep this picture of her. see, more pictures like that. me and my mum. aw! and these pictures, you know, they're priceless. this meant the world to me. this would be like losing another life to me. because these pictures are the only things i've got left of my mum. especially herjewellery box. so to lose all that would be losing her all over again. this time last year, i was very excited about christmas. this time of year, it's all about being close, going out with friends. a year on, i mean, how things have

changed in such a quick time. normally, we get to christmas with the little boy, which we'd go shopping for together. well, this christmas, i don't feel like i'll be... could be myself. i've never spent christmas in a hotel, without cooking for my family. it's not... it's not a good situation to be in, especially over christmas. it's not going to be a happy time. christmas is meant for family to be together. right now, i don't feel no optimism whatsoever. i don't feel excited in any way, shape or form. i just feel. ..lonely. like paul, mrs mamudu has also faced

loneliness since the fire. living in a hotel room with her grandson, she lacks community and hasn't been able to cook for six months. today, she's cooking for the first time since the fire with her daughter, khadija, and other survivors at a local community centre. ashley, i need help. yep, i'm coming. how can i help? i need to stick some of this... put in here. what is that? coconut oil. cool! got it, got it. khadija. .. mrs mamudu, how much of this do you want? more. she wants more. it's a real privilege to be here. this is the first time that mrs mamudu has been able to cook since the fire. she's still, six months on, living in a hotel, and this is a big dealfor her. she's cooking some nigerian cuisine with some of her family and some

of the local residents, and there's a real sense of community and home in the lead—up to christmas. it's a really nice environment for her. how's that been for you? uplifting. how so? it makes me just feel... for a moment. fora moment, forthe people, we've survived together, to all get together and be happy. we're entering a new year. what hopes do you have for 2018? nothing. blank. because i don't know where i'll be. right now, things are bleak. if we're being honest, you have been offered four properties. yes. why... why have you turned them all down? they said grenfell would be lost, they would give us the properties like what we lost. they came and they took down our requirements more than eight times.

eight times. still, yes, they got it wrong. still. so they still take us to a property, i cannot go in with my wheelchair. do you think survivors have been too picky? that's the wrong word to use. they are not being given the right thing that has been assessed. i'm now mostly in pain. all we eat now is restaurant. we cannot cook. six months. six months on, i don't think things have changed dramatically. i mean, you still have a lot of people that are, i would say, in temporary flats or temporary accommodation. there are still people in hotels. even me, at my age — i'm 69 — i have changed. tyrshondre has totally changed. he was a happy little go—lucky child, but now he's like...the reverse.

i always feel sad. i don't really ever want to leave my hotel room. we have no dignity, no respect, nobody even remembers we are there. people don't deserve this. they don't. they didn't put themselves in this predicament. this time last year, football played a significant role in paul's life. since the fire, however, he hasn't played. wanting to move forward with his life, this is the first time that paul's come back to his training ground. do you think you're going to be able to forget about grenfell and everything, just for half an hour to an hour, just to catch up with your mates and play some football? it's going to, for me, it's going to be difficult. it's going to be difficult. but i think i've got to try. i'm probably a little bit rusty, to be perfectly honest with you, but i'll let the football do the talking. oh, ok, bro! let's do it! how're you doing, mate? yeah, not bad. nice to see you. you all right, yeah?

give me a hug. it's not every day you get a hug off this guy! no. it's not every day... i wasn't going to hug you, but i will! the boys are waiting for you, look. how's it going? are you all right, mate, yeah? football coach rico has been a massive source of support for paul, both before and after the fire, having even raised funds to help paul get back on his feet. i want you to get everything out of your head. forget it for one hour. you're going to get away from whatever's happened and we're going to get on with the football, yeah? football is the answer, mate. all right? come on. let's go, big game's on sunday! great corner, menacer! it took my mind off it, being back here, having you shouting at me. that's what took my mind

off it a little bit. but at the same time, i know i need to get back into shape, start coming to football more, start coming back. good. do you think you're going to keep coming back every week now, yeah? yeah, 100%. promise me that, yeah? promise you. 0k, good. i'm going to... i'm going to take you up on that, yeah? right, your team—mates are waiting for you, yes, menacer! keep going, son, keep going! keep going. as survivors of the grenfell tower fire take the necessary steps to rebuild their lives, scores still remain homeless, dispersed across west london hotels and service apartments. and as christmas looms, it's the small acts of community and recreation that will provide survivors with any sense of normality and hope for the year ahead. our reporter, ashleyjohn baptiste, talking to paul menacer and raksumu mamudu about their lives this time last year compared to now. the royals have arrived, as you can

see. princes william and harry and kate is there as well. going up the steps. a little earlier, the prime minister was driven in to the side of the cathedral. we saw the labour leaderjeremy corbyn is what. they are taking their seats. —— jeremy corbyn as well. the memorial service begins at 11am. before that, we will hand over to mishal husain. john says, you're grenfell survivor guests are speaking with so much grace, dignity and courage, the best of us, or you must all help they can move on with their lives at some point. jackie says, sold solidarity with grenfell today. you are a family and! with grenfell today. you are a family and i feel you are a lot of

people's family now, look after yourselves, i wish you well. tom says, so moved hearing the grenfell survivor speak, my thoughts and prayers are with you. princes william and his wife and prince harry are about to go inside st paul's cathedral, as everybody settles down ahead of 11am. we will be crossing live to the beginning of the service, as you would expect, on bbc news and on bbc one. we will talk now to one man who has been helping survivors. imrad madden is from the islamic relief fund. six months ago, the very dreadful

morning, we woke up to those seems that everyone saw of the fire. i represent islamic relief, and international humanitarian aid organisation. we have got emergency operations around the world, so instinctively, we felt there was perhaps a need for us to respond. initially, we thought that might be 2a hours, a8 hours. we sent volunteers. we provided things like water and food. because of the humanitarian instincts, we quickly realised there was going to be significant unmet needs. in time. whilst we were quite happy to provide that initial support, we came together as a group of charities forming the grenfell muslim response unit to pool resources , muslim response unit to pool resources, talk to the community with one voice and underpin something very important to us which is dignity and that is something we can bring from international aid, whenever you are dealing with the

community very badly affected, traumatised in many ways, you have to have a certain approach and we have been able to bring that experience from the field. what started with initial response of food and water, it converted into cash grants for people who needed help in the early days... prince charles and his wife arriving just behind us, you probably saw the car sweeping by, they are the final royals to arrive before the service begins. i apologise, sorry. we then committed to a longer term programme providing grants for people, helping with accommodation, and also things like burials. people needed to bury the dead, very difficult time, we provided financial assistance. and help them through the process as well. thank you, imrad. since charles and camilla —— prince

charles and camilla —— prince charles and camilla —— prince charles and camilla, the duchess of cornwall, arriving at the front of st paul's, being escorted in through the front door, the final guests of honour to arrive before the national memorial service begins at 11am. let us hand over now to mishal husain, as members of the royal family take their seats. he and the duchess of cornwall will be walking through the centre of the cathedral in a moment with the duke and duchess of cambridge and prince harry to take their seats at the front of the congregation just before the serviced —— the service

begins. the prince of wales has a link toa begins. the prince of wales has a link to a couple of the groups we will see represented or to hearfrom in the service. the mosque, one of its employees will be helping to carry the grenfell ran through the cathedral, the mosque opened by the prince —— the grenfell banner. he also knows the ebony steel band who we heard playing a moment ago, the prince presented that leader with the mbe. the lord mayor is now taking his seat at the front of the congregation. the lord mayor and the lady mayoress. and then the members

of the royal family will be escorted to their seats by the dean just before the service begins. and it will be a very special service. commemorating this terrible loss of life, the worst loss of life in a fire anywhere in the uk since world war ii. it will be an emotional service, we already know that. from what the survivors and the bereaved families have said. it is also an unprecedented gathering of those affected, the first time they have gathered together in these numbers. they have all come with their own sense of connection with the events of that night. and some of them will

go from here to take part later on today in the silent march that takes place on the 1ath of every month in and around the grenfell tower. it was important to the cathedral to make sure the service reflected the different traditions and different religions of the grenfell community, not all of them are christian, so there are these multi—faith elements we will see in the service. and when we will see in the service. and when we hear the cathedral choir, one of the pieces of music they have chosen is from the musical west side story, chosen because they wanted to make sure this service would appeal to those of all faiths and none and

that this should be a moment that fits not just that this should be a moment that fits notjust the horror of that night but the deep and raw emotions as we commemorate events that are still so recent. members of the royal family are now starting to walk through the nave of the cathedral. the service will begin with the first hint and as we hear that him, this banner which has been especially made for this occasion will be carried through the cathedral and placed below the pulpit —— the service will begin with the first hymn. it has been carried by a local roman catholic priest. and by a representative of

the mosque. the symbolism of the greenheart which has been adopted as a symbol of grenfell will be seen through the service as well because some of the schoolchildren who are pa rt some of the schoolchildren who are part of the congregation here, children from schools in the g re nfell children from schools in the grenfell area, they will scatter greenhearts in memory of those who died around the cathedral. you can see the congregation also, how some of the families have brought their children with them on this day. and so children with them on this day. and so the service will begin with the first hymn be still my soul, often

sungin first hymn be still my soul, often sung in remembrance, and that is when we will see the banner carried through the cathedral. # be still, my soul, the lord is on your side # bear patiently the cross of grief and pain # leave to your god to order and provide # in every change he faithful will remain