I really do want ‘to look back in anger’ at this week’s atrocity in my home city of Manchester.
Some people are forgiving but I am struggling to forgive the mindless monster who savagely killed and brutally injured beautiful young people enjoying a concert. Just what can we do and who do we blame? We cannot blame the majority of a certain religious faith for the damage done by a minority. How many times this week have we read the phrase, ‘You cannot taint everyone with the same brush?’
This week we have seen the strength and determination of our own Mancunians. Whether you are red or blue, black or white, Christians, Jews or Muslims we have witnessed solidarity and massive support. We have also read of the kind gestures and gifts of match day earnings from our football team heroes.
Everyone is talking about the bees buzzing on. Bee symbols are buzzing around social media. Car stickers have sold out. But do you know why the bee is a symbol of Manchester? I must admit I needed to do some research on Wikipedia. Here is what I found:
The City of Manchester has various heraldic emblems, particularly the worker bee which symbolises industry. Manchester City Council incorporates the worker bee into its coat of arms, as well as the Red Rose of Lancaster, and three stripes and ship (representing the rivers Irwell, Medlock and Irk, and the Manchester Ship Canal); its motto is "Concilio et Labore" which is loosely translated to "By wisdom and effort.
A mosaic hive of bees depicted on flooring in the Manchester Town Hall. The worker bee was adopted as a motif for Manchester during the Industrial Revolution, at a time when Manchester was taking a leading role in new forms of mass production. Seven bees are included in the crest of the city's arms which were granted to the Borough of Manchester in 1842. The bee denotes Mancunians' hard work during this era and Manchester being a hive of activity in the 19th century. Bees are recognised as intrinsic part of the eco-system with a vital role to play in pollinating crops.
HMS Manchester is nicknamed Busy Bee after the Manchester's bee symbol and the bee is depicted on the ship's crest which is also present on the ship's funnel. In the early 1970s the famous Boddingtons logo was introduced, depicting a barrel and two bees. The University of Manchester's coat of arms features three bees. The bees are depicted on many structures in Manchester such as lampposts and bollards.
I must say that centuries of hard work, determination and passion will not be destroyed by mindless, cowardly monsters. And the bees buzz on!
It is only by pure coincidence ‘Lottie Saves the Bees’ was published this week. I can’t get the ‘buzzing bees’ out of my head. My thoughts are with the families, especially the families in Royton my home town. I went to school with Steve Howe. His beautiful wife did not return from waiting for their daughter. How can we forgive?
BUT THE BEES WILL BUZZ ON!
