The brother of an Oswaldtwistle mum killed in the 7/7 bombings has paid tribute to his sister on the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Tragic mum-of-two Marie Hartley was on the Number 30 bus that exploded in Tavistock Square on July 7, 2005.
A few minutes before boarding the bus she’d sent a text message telling her Altham work pals that she was safe.
The 34-year-old freehand artist was one of 52 people killed by the four suicide bombers who detonated explosives on board three Tube trains and a bus during rush hour in July 2005.
On Wednesday Marie’s brother Ian Targett said the family chose a low-key gathering to signal the fifth anniversary of her death.
Father-of-one Ian said: "My sister’s anniversary is a very emotional day. It’s a sad day. We had a quiet get together and had no plans to go to the memorial in London."
He added: "Although it is five years on it is still very raw. It never goes away, you can just deal with it a bit better. It’s just another day when I think about her and visit her grave."
Marie was a former St Nicholas Primary and Moorhead High School pupil and became the studio manager of 20 staff at Hambledon Studios in Altham.
She enjoyed music, art and reading and attended St Mary’s Church, but lived for her family, especially her husband David and two young children - Liam and Adan who are now 12 and six respectively.
Marie had been in London on business with a friend and colleague when the attack happened. But it took six days for the family to receive official confirmation that Marie had been killed.
Speaking in July 2005, shortly after the terrorist attacks, Marie’s dad John Targett, who has now died, said: "Her husband David rang her work to confirm she was safe so we thought everything was fine.
"It threw us completely because it got to 6pm and we hadn’t heard from her, which was so unusual. She was always in touch with us, such a loving, wonderful girl.
"Then I called the missing persons’ helpline and they had no record of her but gave me a list of hospitals to check with. We were getting more and more worried - we’re still numb with shock - as hospital after hospital had no record either."
He added: "We were clinging to a sliver of hope that she was in hospital but on Tuesday police said everybody in hospital had been identified and she was not among them so we have had to accept the worst."
Her brother Ian said Marie is still sorely missed.
"I was very close to my sister," Ian said. "She would light up a room and was a strong character. She was well liked and had a lot of friends. I think about her every day.
"Her kids are great. You know what kids are like - they bounce back. They are a tower of strength in the way they don’t dwell on things. I’m very close to her husband David too, we look after the children regularly and I see him most days and every weekend."
He added: "Her anniversary has always been a difficult day but every day is difficult in its own right some times."
N In the days following the terrorist attacks Marie’s family said they were too upset to make any comment about the British-born Islamic suicide bombers who caused such carnage on July 7 2005 - and took away a wife, mother and daughter.
