This September the city will be taken back in time to 1914 for the Merseyside First World War Commemoration, a special weekend programme of events to mark the 100 year anniversary since Britain entered in to the First World War, brought by The First World War Commemoration Task Group from Friday 12th till Sunday 14th September.
The programme of events will commence with a free concert at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Friday 12th September. In this special concert a mass choir of Song Merseyside that has been formed especially for the event, comprising of Primary Schools from six local authorities, will perform a special selection of songs from the World War era which will echo through the Cathedral. Participating choirs Vox Swing, Pacific Swing, Sing Our Socks Off, Vox Voices, as well as many individual singers, all come together to present a wonderful highlight to lead the proceedings of the weekend.
St Johns Gardens will be transformed to 1914 Merseyside on Saturday 13th September, with a series of performances, exhibitions and stalls that will demonstrate to all exactly what life was like at the time of the outbreak of the First World War. Encounter everything from Housing, Clothing, Transport, Entertainment, Public Health and Women’s Suffrage in this educational and informative experience which will give the public a fascinating insight in to life at the time. It will also explore what the Call to Arms meant to thousands of families in and around the (old) counties of Lancashire and Cheshire in this truly poignant event that will offer something for the whole family. There will also be a special guest appearance from The Band of the Grenadier Guards who will perform in the Gardens before a full concert that evening at St Georges Hall.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards, the sound which symbolises the very essence of the nation, will play a live concert filled with the music which has made them a national treasure for more than three centuries in the magnificent Great Hall at St Georges Hall, and is also a fundraiser for SSAFA, on Saturday 13th September.
Throughout Britain’s history, the music of the Grenadier Guards has been the backdrop to national life and identity; representing British constancy, dignity and artistry – attributes shared with the venue for this unique concert – and the guard are now regarded as one of the world’s finest military bands; having filled the streets of London with music and colour; a truly historic sound and sight which invokes the very sentiment of national pride. The band has not been seen in Merseyside within living memory so this is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to see them play live.
There will also be a warm welcome for guests as brass musicians aged 11-18 from Resonate’s Music Centre will be playing a special selection of music, entertaining guests as they arrive.
Concluding the weekend on Sunday 14th September is a special Drumhead Service at Exchange Flags, honouring the ceremonies that Soldiers of all faiths and beliefs received before they went off to War in 1914, and also whilst they served. A Drumhead Service has its origins in the distant past where military chaplains in the field used the drums of their Battalion or Regimental band to construct a makeshift altar, so that they could hold religious services close to where the troops were positioned. The drums were covered by either a simple cloth or a flag and topped by a simple cross.
Councillor Roy Gladden, Chair of the First World War Commemoration Task Group said: “I hope that as many people as possible will come together to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War. This commemorative event will give a small but very informative insight to the generations of today of what life was like at the time of the outbreak of the First World War. This commemorative event recognises all the Commonwealth countries that were involved during World War One and representatives from each have been invited to attend.”
This will be the first in a series of Commemorative events happening across the Merseyside region over the next four years, marking key dates and events throughout the First World War, and is truly not to be missed.
The First World War Commemoration Task Group is made up of the six local authorities Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral as well as the Ministry of Defence and various organisations including SSAFA and the Royal British Legion.
Anyone interested in exhibiting at the event in St Johns Gardens on Saturday 13th September can contact Susan McAdam on 0151 600 2918 or susan.mcadam@liverpool.gov.uk.
For further information please visit www.itsliverpool.com/culture
PERFORMANCE DETAILS:
Primary Schools Concert
Anglican Cathedral, St James Mount, Liverpool L1 7AZ
Friday 12th September 2014
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Tickets: Free Event
World War One Commemoration Day
St Johns Gardens, William Brown Street (Behind St Georges Hall), Liverpool
Saturday 13th September 2014
Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Tickets: Free Event
The Band of the Grenadier Guards
St George’s Hall, St George’s Pl, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 1JJ
Saturday 13th September 2014
Time: 6.30pm (doors) | 7.30pm (show)
Tickets: £20.00 (Inc Booking Fee)
Purchase in person at TicketQuarter, Queen Square, Liverpool, online at www.ticketquarter.co.uk or on 0844 800 0410 or at St George’s Hall Shop 0151 225 6909
Drumhead Service
Exchange Flags, Liverpool, L2 3YL
Sunday 14th September 2014
Time: 12:00pm – 12:45pm
Tickets: Free Event