On Sunday, November 12, Liverpool City Council will hold its annual Remembrance Service on the plateau at St George’s Hall.

Thousands are expected to gather on Lime Street for the service, which has the theme ‘Liverpool Remembers’ and includes faith and community leaders, as well as members of the Armed Forces and war veterans.

The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment Band and The Liverpool Scottish Regimental Association’s pipes and drums will begin playing at 10.40am, leading up to the start of the service.

Readings and prayers will be given by The Bishop of Liverpool, Rt Revd Dr John Perumbalath, and The Archbishop of Liverpool, The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon.

Tracy Dunn-Bridgeman, who lost her son, Kingsman Jason Dunn-Bridgeman, in the Afghanistan war in 2009, is this year’s guest speaker. He was serving with the 2nd Battalion of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment when his platoon became engaged in an exchange of fire with the enemy during a foot patrol in Helmand province’s Babaji district. Tracy was later awarded Merseyside’s first Elizabeth Cross in recognition of her son’s bravery.

Deb Mills-Burns, a military veteran and author who is part of the ‘Stand by Her’ programme delivered by Everton in the Community, will read a moving poem titled ‘My Liverpool Home’ during the ceremony. Stand by Her, the official charity of Everton Football Club, will be launched in May 2023. It is specifically designed to support female veterans, providing participants with the opportunity to reconnect socially and improve their physical health through sport and holistic methods, as well as signposting and access to mental, physical, and social health services.

Father Taras Khomych, representing the Ukrainian Catholic Church, will lay a wreath in memory of UK and Commonwealth personnel who died in two World Wars and subsequent conflicts.

The traditional firing of the gun at 11am will signal the start of the two-minute silence, followed by another firing at the end.

The parade will march from St George’s Plateau to salute the Cenotaph after the traditional wreath-laying and service by key civic, military, and religious leaders and Cadets.

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 up red from Friday 10 November – Sunday 12 November to mark the Remembrance weekend.

The Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall will be open to the public on Sunday, 12 November 2023 between 12:00noon and 4:00pm.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Mary Rasmussen, said: 

“Our annual Remembrance Sunday service is a poignant event that gives the whole city the opportunity to come together and pay tribute to those who have served to protect and uphold the freedom we have today.

“This year, we wanted the service to also reflect the important and vital contribution that women make to the Armed Forces, in keeping our nation safe. 

“The sacrifices made by those, past and present, who serve and have served, must never be forgotten.”

Road closures

The following closures will be in place on Sunday 12 November:

• William Brown Street from Byrom Street – 7am -1pm
• London Road between Seymour Street and Lime Street – 9:30am – 1pm
• Commutation Row between Islington and Lime Street – 9:30am – 1pm
• Islington between Fraser Street and Commutation Row – 9:30am – 1pm
• Lime Street between London Road and Copperas Hill 9:30am – 1pm
• St. John’s Lane and St. George’s Place between Old Haymarket and Lime Street – 9.30am – 1pm
• Skelhorne Street between Bolton Street and Lime Street – 9:30am – 1pm
• Queens Square Bus Station will be closed from 9:30am to 1pm
• Access for the Holiday Inn Hotel and St John’s car park will be facilitated from Elliot Street / Lime Street junction.

All closures will be signed and stewarded and will remain in force only for as long as is necessary.

Due to the closure of Lime Street, the football bus services for the Liverpool FC v Brentford FC match Anfield (kick off at 2.30pm) will operate from Monument Place.

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