Ruby Reid is the first winner of the Saffie's Smile Award (Image: Emma Burr)
A schoolgirl from Cornwall is the first ever winner of a national award created in memory of the little girl who was killed in the bombing at Manchester Arena. The Saffie’s Smile Award is dedicated to Saffie Roussos, who died in the terror attack at the Ariana Grande concert in 2017.
Her parents, Andrew and Lisa, wanted to create a positive memory of their daughter rather than for her to simply be remembered as the youngest person to die in the bombing. They teamed up with the Sun newspaper to establish an award which celebrates children aged 16 and under who have shown remarkable character and have gone above and beyond to support others.
After receiving entries from across the country, Andrew and Lisa chose Ruby Reid, from St Blazey, as the first winner. The Roussos family surprised Ruby with her award at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire last month while the teen was fulfilling a lifelong dream of feeding giraffes.
Ruby, 16, acts as the main carer for her mum Emma Burr, 55, who has ME - also known as chronic fatigue syndrome - and depression. Ruby was also diagnosed with depression when she was around nine years old after being bullied in school, and on October 4, 2020, her big brother Charley, 25, took his own life after being unable to cope with lockdown.
Emma said it came as a huge surprise to her to learn that her daughter had won and she had to keep it a secret from Ruby until they went to Longleat. She explained: “I got a call and was told we were going to Longleat as Ultra VIPs and to meet Andrew and Lisa.
“So, we went and had our hair and makeup done, got in a Jeep with a videographer, a photographer, and the hair and makeup artist. Ruby was so excited to be in an actual safari park. We went off to feed the giraffes, then Andrew and Lisa appeared to give Ruby the news that she had won.
“They felt she embodied everything Saffie was. Her liveliness. Her passion, her ability to make everyone smile and her kindness. Ruby felt she didn’t deserve it but Andrew and Lisa, who not for one moment felt like strangers, said she was exactly the person they were looking for.”
Saffie Roussos was the youngest person killed in the Manchester concert bombing (Image: PA Wire)
As well as winning the first ever award, Ruby and her family were presented with a trip to New York City, the place where Saffie’s Smile Award was initially launched in July. Ruby will now celebrate her 17th birthday in New York - and it just so happens that she and Saffie share the same birthday.
“We’ll be taking [Saffie] with us, back to New York which she loved,” Emma said. “Remembering her spirit, the lives she touched and not for how she died but how she lived. I’m not quite sure how I’ll manage it but I’ll put every penny into making sure [Ruby] goes.
“We can’t thank the Sun newspaper or Saffie’s mum and dad, Andrew and Lisa, for giving [Ruby] this amazing opportunity. I only wish that it was her brother taking her not me but he”ll be there with us.” ARTICLE ENDS.
BBC NEWS:
Manchester Arena attack: Saffie Roussos' father plans to sue MI5
FAMILY HANDOUT
By Rumeana Jahangir & PA Media
BBC News
The father of the youngest victim in the Manchester Arena attack has said he intends to sue MI5.
The head of the security agency said it was "profoundly sorry" that it did not prevent the suicide bombing which killed 22 people in 2017.
The apology followed a public inquiry which found MI5 missed opportunities to stop the attacker Salman Abedi.
Andrew Roussos, whose daughter Saffie was killed, told Times Radio that "MI5 have, for me, most of the blame".
He said families of some of the other victims had indicated they might join him in legal action.
Twenty-two people were killed and hundreds were injured when Abedi detonated his device after an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.
Lisa Roussos, seen with her husband Andrew, underwent months of treatment after being injured in the attack
Speaking about the plan to sue MI5, Mr Roussos told Times Radio: "It's the only way to learn, everybody learns by hitting them hard in the pocket, I am sorry to say.
"At 2017 we were at the highest alert and everybody was warned of an attack in this country and MI5 who their sole job - they are well-funded and well-equipped - had 22 pieces of information about Salman Abedi.
"So if they would have learnt lessons they wouldn't have allowed Abedi to walk into that arena.
"So yes MI5 have, for me, most of the blame."
On Thursday, inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders said intelligence could have led to Manchester-born Abedi being followed to the car where he stored explosives, which were then moved to a flat to assemble the bomb.
He said that, if MI5 had acted on the intelligence received, the 22-year-old could also have been stopped at Manchester Airport on his return from Libya four days before the attack.
Watch: Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders speaks of "significant missed opportunity"
In a rare public statement, MI5 director-general Ken McCallum said: "I am profoundly sorry that MI5 did not prevent the attack."
He added "had we managed to seize the slim chance we had, those impacted might not have experienced such appalling loss and trauma".
