The Bethnal Green Tube Shelter Disaster, in which 173 lost their lives on the 3 March 1943 – the worst civilian disaster in Britain during World War 2, was commemorated on Sunday 8 March 2026.  The event started with a well attended service in the Church of St John on Bethnal Green, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, during which the names of all of those killed were read out, after which people processed out to the Stairway to Heaven Memorial, which was unveiled in December 2017 near the station entrance where the disaster had occurred.  People were invited to place wreaths on the Memorial and a short Act of Commitment was held, before people were invited back into the Church for tea, coffee and cakes.