On the seventh anniversary of the deadly blaze, which claimed 72 lives, a new film has been released to highlight the importance of remembering people’s feelings and actions in the immediate aftermath. Hanan Wahabi, who survived the blaze but lost her brother and his family, and Sandra Ruiz, whose 12-year-old niece died, both feature in the film to highlight how crucial archiving is in preserving the memory of what happened. They are members of the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission – made up of representatives of the bereaved, survivors and residents of the Lancaster West Estate on which the remains of the tower stand – which was established after the blaze to ensure the community is at the heart of decisions on the long-term future of the site.
They said: “Our film this year, in memory of the 72 beautiful souls we lost seven years ago, explains how important archiving is in preserving the memory of Grenfell in perpetuity. “Through what has already been written and created, and the subsequent archiving of those expressions, we can continue to hear what people said, and their thoughts and feelings about that night. “This will help to ensure that what happened on 14 June 2017 is never forgotten.
Our 72 loved ones, and our community, deserve nothing less.” A report by the commission in November said construction of a “bold, fitting, and lasting memorial” to those affected by the fire could begin from late 2026. The commission’s co-chairs, Thelma Stober and L.