7/7 London Bombings: 18th Anniversary July 7, 2023

Each year as an anniversary approaches, it is never easy. It's not easy for the bereaved or for the survivors. On Friday, July 7, 2023, in the morning before the memorial service, survivors and bereaved family members came together to connect away from all the media. Each year Strength to Strength hosts this morning breakfast, this year at the Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel right near Hyde Park, where the memorial is. Beautiful pastries and fresh fruit were provided along with coffee, tea and soft drinks.

Jo Dover, Advisory Board Member of Strength to Strength, assisted in the morning support but also helped coordinate the memorial service with some of the survivors. In continuing with our Survivor’s Exchange Program, Board Member and Oklahoma City survivor, Dot Hill and the wife of a 9/11 survivor, Cyndi Branco, joined to support those impacted by the 7/7 bombings.

The ceremony this year was small and meaningful, hearing stories from those that survived that day and the reading of the names of those who are no longer here. The most meaningful part is the end of the ceremony where everyone is able to take a flower and place it on the memorial, remembering those lives lost that day, 18 years ago.

After the ceremony, approximately 35 people joined Strength to Strength for lunch at the Serpentine Bar and Kitchen Restaurant that is not far from the memorial. Special thank you to John Payne, whose wife Aiko survived the bombing that day, for assisting in arranging with the restaurant for our group.

As we have previously done, Strength to Strength will be here to provide support especially on anniversaries for as long as families impacted by the London Bombings in the United Kingdom need us.

Special THANK YOU to the Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel for making the morning so special and the Serpentine for taking care of our large group.