Cornwall was represented at the recent Grenfell five year memorial by the founder of a Cornish charity that welcomed survivors for a respite holiday in Cornwall.

Esmé Page, founder of Cornwall Hugs carried Cornwall’s respects to the memorial ceremonies in Westminster Abbey, the multi-faith service under Grenfell Tower and on the Silent Walk.

Grenfell memorial. Pictures Esme Page

Grenfell memorial. Pictures Esme Page

She met up with many of the families who stayed in Cornwall and passed on personal greetings from some of the thousands in Cornwall who helped to welcome Grenfell families on respite holidays - nearly 500 people came to Cornwall for respite in the years following the fire.

The Cornwall Hugs placard this year for the silent walk, showed the Grenfell Street sign in Mousehole and a St Piran’s flag bearing 72 green hearts, for those who died.

Back in Mousehole, all week, passers-by had been stopping to take selfies and post them in solidarity.

As a mark of solidarity, St Michael’s Mount lit up the castle in green light, co-including with the Strawberry moon.

Grenfell memorial. Pictures Esme Page

Grenfell memorial. Pictures Esme Page

"It was a deeply emotional time - it felt important that Cornwall be represented after all the love that people showed here and the solidarity they continue to express," said Esmé. "There were people I’d arranged to meet but so many more chance encounters with our past guest in the 48 hours that I was there - on the street, at the memorials. So many hugs I received to bring back to specific people or just in general to Cornwall.

"For the Grenfell families there is no way to move on while the same flammable cladding is on hundreds of thousands of flats and while there is no change to legislation for the evacuation of the disabled. Above all, while there is no justice.

Cornwall Hugs Grenfell founder Esme Page with London Fire Commissioner, Dany Cotton in 2017.

Cornwall Hugs Grenfell founder Esme Page with London Fire Commissioner, Dany Cotton in 2017.

"To wake up the morning after the memorials and see this image from 300 miles away, from a place so many Grenfell families have loved to visit, was such a morale boost. The Grenfell families were so touched to see this picture with the moon next to the green castle. After the intensity of the memorials, which had been so daunting for many survivors and bereaved, I think it reminded them of Cornwall’s love and somehow offered a sense of hope. I’m so grateful to Lord and Lady St Levan and the Mount team and to Greg Martin for creating this magical gift for Grenfell,’ said Esmé Page."

On the silent walk, 18,000 people walked for two hours through the streets of Kensington in silence to remember the 72 lost and demanded justice and vital changes in housing safety and emergency procedure legalisation to ensure such a tragedy never happens again. In particular the community is calling out urgently for the Grenfell Inquiry’s recommendation for mandatory Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for the disabled to be enforced. 15 of the 37 disabled residents in Grenfell Tower died.