Just over 3.5 months after the horrendous bombing at Ariana Grande's Manchester Arena concert, the venue is due to re-open later this week on Saturday, September 9 with a . Statutory Deputy Leader of the Council, Sue Murphy, said recently, "we welcome the re-opening of the Arena, a major venue which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, as a powerful symbol of this defiant and resilient spirit."
We could not agree more with Councillor Murphy, as members of the Manchester community, we have experienced first-hand the generosity, spirit and loyalty of the people of Manchester-and beyond.
We may be an e-commerce retailer, but we have a home-base and that is Manchester. As William May HQ is just down the street from the arena, the tragedy has had an impact on us all. Days after the attack we rolled out our Manchester Bee Pendant, the symbol of Manchester, to raise money for the Manchester appeal. We are grateful and thankful for the response from the necklaces and have received another batch to keep up with demand!
As the symbol of Manchester, the 'worker bee' represents the hard-work of Manchester's Industrial Revolution past. The worker bees were immortalized in the city's coat of arms in 1842. A motif for the workers in the textile factories, the bee has become one of the most significant symbols of the city's hard working nature and Manchester being a hive of activity in the 19th century. After the attacks in May, Mancunians, and those in support, gave new meaning to the bee, using the emblem as a symbol for unity. Like a bee, Mancunians have proved that though humble and peaceful, they are not to be messed with. The love and compassion that has seeped from the community in the wake of the horrible tragedy certainly makes us proud to say we are from Manchester. The 'worker bee' has become so much more than a symbol for hard-work, it's become an emblem of unity, strength and resilience.
As part of the community, we too want to continue to do what we can for the victims and their families. Our Sterling Silver 18-inch Cubic Zirconia Bee Necklace is £21.95 with 100% of the proceeds going straight to the 'We Love Manchester Emergency Fund'.
