A service commemorating the 20th anniversary of the London bombings of 7 July 2005, will be held today at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Doctors who treated the injured in the courtyard of BMA House when one of the bombs went off on the number 30 bus in Tavistock Square will be among those in attendance.
In total four bombs exploded across London that day, taking 52 lives and injuring many more.
Peter Holden and Professor Sir Sam Everington were among those who ran towards danger to help the victims on the day – and both will share their experiences of that day, their reflections on how their lives were changed and their feelings 20 years on.
The ceremony, which will begin at 11.15am, and will be live streamed.
Clear as day
BMA council chair Tom Dolphin (pictured above outside BMA House) said: ‘I was working in A&E at the Royal London that day and amidst the bustle and busyness of what was happening I was very conscious that people I knew were right there in BMA House in the thick of it. I was worried for them but also incredibly proud.
‘Everybody who was at BMA House on that day remembers it very clearly as a day that changed everybody’s lives. I don’t think anybody goes through a day like that without coming out as a different person.
‘I have a strong sense of pride that the doctors who were here, even those for whom emergency care is not their usual practice, were able to step up and provide support, care and comfort for the victims. They did that in a hugely traumatic situation that came out of nowhere – with no warning – and that’s something we can be very proud of as a profession and as their colleagues and friends.
‘People go into medicine wanting to care for patients. That’s what motivates all of us. And that really showed up in those moments in the strongest possible way.’