In a poignant gesture, a bus bearing the name of Olivia Campbell-Hardy, one of the 22 victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, has been unveiled in her hometown. The yellow Bee Network bus, which will run along the 469 school route between Bury and Tottington that Olivia used to take, serves as a fitting tribute to “a young lady who will remain forever 15”.
Olivia, described by her family as a “funny kid who loved music, dancing and singing”, was just 15 years old when she was tragically killed in the bombing that followed an Ariana Grande concert. Her grandmother, Sharon Goodman, unveiled the bus at Olivia’s school, Tottington High School, stating that it was a “fitting tribute to have a little bit of Olivia’s spirit coming to this area”.
The bus, which features Olivia’s name on the exterior and a bee-patterned ceiling to honour all those who lost their lives in the attack, was commissioned by Transport for Greater Manchester at the request of Olivia’s family. Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, attended the unveiling and expressed his support for the initiative, saying, “When Olivia’s family asked us to dedicate a bus, we all thought it was a wonderful idea and it all fits with the spirit of the Bee Network.”
Olivia’s mother, Charlotte Campbell, fondly remembered her daughter as “the cheeky little girl that she was – always singing, laughing.” In the aftermath of the tragedy, Olivia’s family established Liv’s Trust, which promotes musical education, dance, drama and the arts for young people across Greater Manchester, ensuring that her legacy lives on.
Alongside the bus unveiling, Tottington High School also dedicated a memorial bench to their former student, further cementing Olivia’s place in the hearts and minds of her community. As Ms. Goodman aptly stated, “Olivia will be forever 15, but forever on the school run with everybody because of the bus. Her name will always be there at the front of people’s minds.”
