City’s Service of Remembrance full of hope

Liverpool will fall silent on Sunday 14 November when the annual Service of Remembrance takes place in Liverpool Cathedral.

In what has become one of the largest events of its kind in the country, attracting 10,000 people in 2019, the Worshipful Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Mary Rasmussen will lead the city’s tribute to the brave men and women who have gone into battle and conflict for their country.

The theme of this years’ service is hope.

Around 1,200 military personnel, veterans and families of the fallen from recent conflicts, plus civic dignitaries from across the Liverpool City Region will gather inside the cathedral for the service and big screens will be set up in the cathedral grounds so members of the public can gather and be part of the commemorations.

The event will start at 10.40am, with a two-minute silence taking place at 11am, followed by a poignant poppy drop outside the venue.

The service will conclude with a short military parade along Upper Duke Street.

The Lord Mayor and Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, will join other key representatives and organisations on Armistice Day (Thursday 11 November) to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph on St George’s Hall plateau. Members of the public are invited to lay their wreaths on Sunday, 14 November between 9am and 5pm.

The decision has been taken to change the venue for the service this year due to the Lime Street development works taking place around St George’s Hall.

Liverpool’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Mary Rasmussen, said: “This is one of the most important events in the city’s civic calendar and each year we see more and more people attend and take the time to remember and reflect on the ultimate sacrifice so many men and women have made for us.

“It’s been a challenging couple of years in terms of organising this service, but the pandemic didn’t stop us in 2020, and thousands joined our virtual service. When planning this year’s event, we made the decision a number of months ago to use a new location as the current development works on Lime Street would have restricted attendance numbers, which was not something we wanted to do.

“We’re delighted that the stunning Liverpool Cathedral will be this year’s venue and I urge people to get the date and new location in their dairies, head to Liverpool Cathedral on the 14th proudly wearing their poppy and show their support for service personnel and their families.”

Dean of Liverpool, Dr Sue Jones said: “Hosting this year’s Remembrance service on behalf of the city is a privilege.

“This poignant service is an opportunity to for us to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.

“Wherever we are situated – inside our building, watching the service outside or from our homes we are collectively remembering all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.”

Liverpool Waterfront