Tweet
Ten years ago today I was about to board a train on my way to London. A Virgin Trains Rep came along the platform to tell us that there would not be a train service to London due to an incident on the underground. We went home and watched the rolling news and the horror unfold. The next morning we were on the first train to London.
There have been many programmes and reports on 7/7 but one thing that stood out for us was that although the mood in London was sombre it was also positive. That piece of curtain was still shielding the Bus outside the BMA. Most of the Underground was still closed off and when you did manage to get on a tube it was eerily quiet. This was a city in shock and mourning and yet……There was something that smothered all this. An overwhelming atmosphere of comradery and humanity.
I have always thought that the famous ‘spirit of the blitz’ was a load of b*****t propaganda. The media convinces us that London is a cold city where people would step over a dying man and ignore a cry for help. All the recollections and stories told by the people who were in the thick of it on that dreadful morning are peppered with acts of outstanding courage and kindness. Strangers taking off their coats to wrap around the injured. Strangers crawling through the wreckage to comfort the wounded and the dying – despite the fact that they may have also been in danger. Remaining amongst the carnage to give succour and aid came more naturally than their instinct to flee.
Four people did something wicked that day. Those of us who weep as the names of the dead, strangers to most of us, are scrolled on our screens cannot comprehend their actions. But remember that London has a population of more than 8 million. Many more people come into London for business or pleasure so on a sunny summer morning it is natural to assume as many a 12 million could be in the capital. Only 4 people caused this catastrophe. Not hundreds but thousands answered the call for help. Transport and even accommodation were freely offered, thousands of emergency staff who were not on duty turned up for work. At the end of this tragic day people went home to wash off the blood of strangers they had helped.
Like others I grieve for the innocent lives lost but I cannot remember 7/7 with undiluted horror. I saw a group of people regardless of race or religion stripped bare of all but their basic humanity doing all they could to help those in need. Today is such a sad day but surely it must be a comfort to us all to see that when our backs are to the wall the vast majority of us do not become feral savages but compassionate, resourceful and often extraordinarily brave human beings.
There have been many programmes and reports on 7/7 but one thing that stood out for us was that although the mood in London was sombre it was also positive. That piece of curtain was still shielding the Bus outside the BMA. Most of the Underground was still closed off and when you did manage to get on a tube it was eerily quiet. This was a city in shock and mourning and yet……There was something that smothered all this. An overwhelming atmosphere of comradery and humanity.
I have always thought that the famous ‘spirit of the blitz’ was a load of b*****t propaganda. The media convinces us that London is a cold city where people would step over a dying man and ignore a cry for help. All the recollections and stories told by the people who were in the thick of it on that dreadful morning are peppered with acts of outstanding courage and kindness. Strangers taking off their coats to wrap around the injured. Strangers crawling through the wreckage to comfort the wounded and the dying – despite the fact that they may have also been in danger. Remaining amongst the carnage to give succour and aid came more naturally than their instinct to flee.
Four people did something wicked that day. Those of us who weep as the names of the dead, strangers to most of us, are scrolled on our screens cannot comprehend their actions. But remember that London has a population of more than 8 million. Many more people come into London for business or pleasure so on a sunny summer morning it is natural to assume as many a 12 million could be in the capital. Only 4 people caused this catastrophe. Not hundreds but thousands answered the call for help. Transport and even accommodation were freely offered, thousands of emergency staff who were not on duty turned up for work. At the end of this tragic day people went home to wash off the blood of strangers they had helped.
Like others I grieve for the innocent lives lost but I cannot remember 7/7 with undiluted horror. I saw a group of people regardless of race or religion stripped bare of all but their basic humanity doing all they could to help those in need. Today is such a sad day but surely it must be a comfort to us all to see that when our backs are to the wall the vast majority of us do not become feral savages but compassionate, resourceful and often extraordinarily brave human beings.
Comment