Liverpool City Council’s annual Service of Remembrance will take place on Sunday 8 November on the plateau at St George’s Hall, with the city marking 110 years since the Battle of the Somme.
This year’s theme is Liverpool Remembers, and the service will bring together faith and community leaders, the Armed Forces and veterans to honour those who gave their lives in conflict.
The steps of St George’s Hall hold a special place in the city’s history. During the First World War they became the rallying point for the Liverpool Pals, when speakers including Lord Derby and Lord Kitchener appealed for 100,000 men to form a new army. Prior to the service, archive film footage of these recruitment rallies and appeals will be shown on the screen, offering a poignant glimpse into the events that took place on the very steps where the service is being held.
The Band of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and The Pipes and Drums of The Liverpool Scottish Regimental Association will play from 10:40am in the run up to the service. There will also be performances from the Liverpool Lighthouse Choir, St Edward’s College Senior Choir and Liverpool Mezzo Soprano Danielle Louise Thomas.
At 11:00am, the two-minute silence will be marked by a ceremonial signal, allowing those gathered to pay their respects in remembrance of the fallen. The silence will be followed by the traditional wreath-laying and service by key civic, military and religious leaders and Cadets, before the parade marches from St George’s Plateau to salute the Cenotaph.
The service is open to all, and attendees are encouraged to arrive early.
The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr William Shortall, said: “It is an honour to stand with our city as we remember those who served, those who serve today and those who gave their lives. A hundred and ten years on from the Somme, the courage of the Liverpool Pals and so many others still matters deeply. Liverpool Remembers is about coming together across faiths, communities and generations to say that we will not forget.”
Leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robinson, said: “Every year Liverpool gathers at St George’s Hall to pay its respects, and this year feels especially poignant as we mark 110 years since the Battle of the Somme. The Cenotaph remains a place where our city reflects with humility and gratitude. I encourage everyone to join us, and to pay tribute to our veterans and everyone affected by conflict.”
Armed Forces Champion for Liverpool City Council, Cllr Declan Henry, said: “Remembrance is about people: the families who waited, the veterans who carry their memories with them and the men and women serving today. Liverpool has always stood by its Armed Forces community, and this service is a chance for all of us to show that again.”
The Port of Liverpool, the Cunard and Royal Liver Buildings, along with Liverpool Parish Church, St George’s Hall and Liverpool Town Hall, will be lit red from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November to mark Remembrance weekend. Large poppies will be displayed on the Town Hall balcony and at the Bombed-Out Church in the build-up, and the church will be open to the public on Sunday 8 November.
The Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall will be open to the public on Wednesday 11 November from 12 noon to 4:00pm.
Road Closures
Road closures will be in place from 7:00am to 1:00pm in the surrounding area, including William Brown Street, London Road, Lime Street and Queens Square Bus Station. All closures will be signed and stewarded and will remain in force only for as long as necessary.
William Brown Street from Byrom Street, 7:00am to 1:00pm
London Road between Seymour Street and Lime Street, 9:30am to 1:00pm
Commutation Row between Islington and Lime Street, 9:30am to 1:00pm
Islington between Fraser Street and Commutation Row, 9:30am to 1:00pm
Lime Street between London Road and Copperas Hill, 9:30am to 1:00pm
St John’s Lane and St George’s Place between Old Haymarket and Lime Street, 9:30am to 1:00pm
Skelhorne Street between Bolton Street and Lime Street, 9:30am to 1:00pm
Queens Square Bus Station, 9:30am to 1:00pm
Access for the Holiday Inn Hotel and St John’s car park will be facilitated from the Elliot Street and Lime Street junction.
