A permanent memorial to Ronan Point is to be created, mayor Rokhsana Fiaz has announced.

Newham Recorder: The wreath laying and service in memory of those who died in the Ronan Point tragedy 50 years ago.The wreath laying and service in memory of those who died in the Ronan Point tragedy 50 years ago. (Image: Archant)

At a service for the victims of the Ronan Point explosion, in which five people died, Ms Fiaz promised to honour their memories with a blue plaque.

The plaque will be put close to where Ronan Point used to be, in Butchers Road in Canning Town.

Ms Fiaz said: “To those who have lobbied for a memorial, I say thank you for your dilligence and commitment to making sure an important historic relic of Newham’s past is remembered.

“There’s something very important about documenting our collective community history, both the upsides and the downs. It ensures we never forget and it ensures we remain dilligent.”

Newham Recorder: The wreath laying and service in memory of those who died in the Ronan Point tragedy 50 years ago.The wreath laying and service in memory of those who died in the Ronan Point tragedy 50 years ago. (Image: Archant)

The service was precursed by a flower-laying in Butchers Road. At the service, reverend David Wade from St Luke’s Church in Canning Town read a poem before leading a minute’s silence.

A documentary about the explosion made by Ricky Chambers, whose grandparents lived in Ronan Point, was also played.

The memorial was attended by more than 60 people, including John McCluskey. His uncle was Tom McCluskey – he died in the explosion on May 16, 1968. John was a child when he attended his uncle’s funeral, who was just 49 when he died.

“The sad thing is, my uncle was a fighter who managed to live through the war,” he said.

“You don’t know whether it’s unlucky or fate that meant this is the way he died.”

The memorial service was shadowed by memories of Grenfell Tower fire – a more recent tragedy, which bore worrying similarities to Ronan Point.

Ms Fiaz said: “I know many of you in this room have been personally affected by the events which took place 50 years ago, this kind of tragedy never goes away. We hold on to it and as much as it causes us pain, we need to keep on amplifying important events like this to those in positions of power.

“I think of Grenfell Tower, and the fact that 50 years on we’re still having to have conversations around the safety of tower blocks.”