AS THE 1ST ANNIVERSARY of the London bombing approached, it was with some trepidation that members of the Beeston community discussed what we should do.

The events in London had affected us directly when it was announced that two of the suspects had lived in our community. A year ago, while the police and press occupied our park and streets, residence from all different faiths and backgrounds had pulled together under the banners Beeston United for Peace and Peace and Unity in our Community.

There had been a number of unity marches in the weeks that followed 7/7 around the area to show the world’s media, who were camped on our doorstep, that we were an area not to be divided by this tragedy. A year on it was decided that we would plant a tree in Cross Flatts Park in the centre of Beeston. The tree became known as the tree of hope: hope for peace in the world, hope for a better world for the future generations.

As the mayor spoke he said “That the tree represented the community of Beeston, with different branches representing the different backgrounds people had come from but the root being the area of Beeston” Over 250 local people attended the event. All faiths were represented: Christians, Moslems, Sikhs, Jews and Atheists.

The press were kept out of trouble in a roped off area, so the rest of us could do what we have been doing for a year, talking, asking questions about why 7/7 happened and why the British government continues to cause even more bloodshed in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.

It was an opportunity for us to stand together united to show the world’s media no matter what rubbish they write about us we know the truth, that we are proud of our community because it has stood together and not allowed racism or ignorance to divide us and like the tree we will continue to grow as a united group of people who choose to live in Beeston.

Sally Kincaid, Beeston Resident Respect candidate for City and Hunslet council elections May 2006