Hundreds gathered in a park in Stockport to celebrate the life of Manchester bombing victim Martyn Hett.
In a touching vigil, his mother said the night was a celebration of her ‘iconic, fun, eccentric, diva’ son.
Friends and family of the 29-year-old PR manager remembered Hett for his hilarious quick wit, as well as his positivity.
Hett was a super fan of British soap Coronation Street, so actress Shobna Gulati, who plays Sunita, read a special poem written by one of the show’s former writers.
At Martyn Hett’s vigil in Stockport, hundreds gathering. His Mum says tonight will be a celebration of his life #manchesterattack pic.twitter.com/Rl3AEO9iIh
— Dan Whitehead (@danwnews) 28 May 2017
The crowd had a minute’s silence for Hett, followed by a touching rendition of Mariah Carey’s Till The End Of Time by close friend, Rob.
Just before the vigil started, a rainbow appeared over the park.
@martynhett @heatonmoorpark Rainbow over the park as we kick off. I kid you not. #martynhett pic.twitter.com/bJJ4F1EES9
— steve skelton (@steve1skelton) 28 May 2017
His mother, Figen Murray, said: ‘A party in the park just for him, he’d be so impressed.
‘And he deserves us all to be here, because he touched so many lives in so many ways.
‘It’s due to all this love and kindness that I’m never going down the route of hate or anger at those responsible for what happened.
‘Badness is a permanent feature in the world at the moment, but I have learnt this week that it also has an abundance of goodness and that by fair outweighs the darkness.
‘No one can ever take Martyn out of our lives,’ she said.
Tributes flood in after the news of Martyn Hett’s death broke
Russell Hayward broke the news of Hett’s passing: ‘He left the world exactly how he lived, centre of attention.
‘Thankfully I have his wonderful and amazing friends to keep each other strong. I love you Martyn,’ he wrote on Twitter.
Moved by the outpouring of grief, designer Philip Normal designed a t-shirt in his honor.
The t-shirt is being sold as part of a GoFundMe page at the cost of £25 with all profit going to Martyn’s family.
The description reads: ‘Through this t-shirt, we would like to create something positive in the face of such tragic events.’
I look like I’m going on a fucking hen do. thanks, bruv. #bemoremartyn pic.twitter.com/MU656ScNaK
— Dan Hett (@danhett) 28 May 2017
Martyn and Russell appeared on, and won, Come Dine With Me together.
Hett, a big Coronation Street fan, also appeared on Tattoo Fixers where he showed off his Deirdre Barlow ink.
After the news broke of Hett’s death, Mariah Carey herself posted about him on Instagram.
She wrote: ‘Devastated to learn that one of the victims in Manchester was part of the #Lambily. RIP Martyn Hett.
‘His family and all the families affected are in my thoughts and prayers,’ she wrote.
