Grenfell

Grenfell Tower can be seen from the NHC parade route. Our community was left devastated by the loss of life and trauma of witnessing the disaster. As organisers of NHC 2018 we felt it appropriate for the people enjoying Carnival on the streets of a community still reeling from the effects of the fire to remember those who lost their lives, the survivors and the bereaved. We took our lead from local organisation Grenfell United, who expressed that the local community and all those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire would appreciate our support in creating “brief moments of reflection and respect in the midst of the two days of revelry”. On their request Notting Hill Carnival held a 72 second silence on both days at 3pm; one second for each life lost in the fire.

In 2019 we repeated the 72 second silence at 3pm on both the 25th and 26th of August. We asked all businesses, all NHC sound systems, all NHC live stages and all parading bands on the route to tune into The Beat London 103.6 for a special Grenfell announcement at 2.58pm. Actor and NHC Ambassador, Colin Salmon invited all Carnivalists to join together in respecting the victims, survivors and the bereaved and honouring the 72 second silence across the entire NHC footprint.

Grenfell United are a group of survivors and bereaved families of the Grenfell Tower fire, ‘working together for the community and campaigning for safe homes, justice and change’.

For more information on how you can get involved click on the link: https://www.grenfellunited.org/