A Week in July: The 5
Was presented to Nicky Gavron, the Deputy Mayor of London
On Friday, 16^th December 2005
At City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA
By the artist, John Anthony Bray

Although the Mayor’s office has co-ordinated a number of events to mark the bombing,
most notably the dignified gathering in Trafalgar Square, and several artists have expressed their feelings about the outrage,
this is the first work of art to be donated to the people of London in memory of that eventful week in July.

John, who has been an artist for twenty years, said that like all sane people he had been deeply shocked by the bombings:

 “A Week in July is a positive statement about what was both one of the brightest and darkest weeks
in London's recent history. It is a gift to all those living and working in London , whatever their race, religion or background,
who together make up a single great community enriched by its diversity.”

John spoke of how his hope and excitement at the success of the 2012 Olympic bid had been dashed by the terrible news
of the suicide bombings on the morning of July 7, and also of how he had been struck by the way the people of London
had united in love for the victims, their friends and their families, showing the strength of their common bond of humanity,
which is the theme of A Week in July:

“The five hearts in the painting reflect this common bond, using the colours and construct of the Olympic symbol to show
the strength of the ideals of hope and peace at the heart of the Olympic movement. They cover the cross of the
bombing sites, reflecting the way that the people of London responded en masse in the opposite way to that intended
by the terrorists.”