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Concept puts some wind in Whimbrel’s sails
THE HMS
Whimbrel Battle of the Atlantic Memorial Project Team has appointed
Southport-based Concept PR to help drive a £2m sponsorship campaign
to return the former warship to its Liverpool home. Ordered
from Glasgow’s famous Yarrow shipyard in 1940, HMS Whimbrel is the
last serving Royal Navy Warship to have fought in the Battle of the
Atlantic. Sold to the Egyptian Navy after the war in 1949, she is
currently awaiting disposal and will go to scrap if the money can
not be raised.
Project Chairman Vice Admiral Mike Gretton said:- “Our aim is
to commemorate one of the most important but least recognised
campaigns of the Second World War through the return of HMS Whimbrel
to her former operating base in the City of Liverpool. There she
will become the focal point of an educational memorial and visitor
attraction for current and future generations.”
The Project Team aims to return HMS Whimbrel to its new home in
Canning Dock in 2008, in time to form part of the City’s Capital of
Culture celebrations.
Concept PR Managing Director Margaret Tarpey said;- “Returning
the Whimbrel to Liverpool will be a fantastic coup for the City and
the region as a whole; attracting tourism and commemorating
Merseyside’s wartime heritage and history, as well as providing a
lasting memorial to all those who served and lost their lives in the
Battle of the Atlantic. We’re hoping Merseyside businesses will
really get behind the bid and support it in any way they can.”
For more information about the HMS Whimbrel Project visit their
website.
Liverpool International Market August 2007
LIVERPOOL City
Council’s markets partner, Geraud Markets Liverpool Limited, has
confirmed the return of the International Market to it’s original
site of Lord Street from 2 to 5 August.
This new International Market of 2007 promises to be bigger and
better than ever in. The market will consist of over 40
international traders from France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Greece,
Poland, Hungary, UK and Spain offering a wide range of Continental
goods. Products on offer include fruit, vegetables, cheeses,
craft items, jams and preserves, olives, antipasties,
German/Polish/French bread plus many traditional dishes to take away
such as Bavarian Sausage, Slovakian roast pork, garlic potatoes,
crepes, waffles and toasted baguettes. The market will operate
from 9.00am each day on Lord Street and finish at 5.00pm. On
Thursday 2 the market will be open for late night shopping. On
Sunday the market will be open from 10.00am until 4.00pm.
Groupe Geraud Chief Executive, Andy Burnett, said;- “The
Company is very happy with the progress it has made during the first
three years of the partnership and looks forward to building upon
that success in the time leading up to 2008 and beyond. This year’s
International Markets events are expected to be even better than
before.” |
Happy 800th Liverpool!
THE Liverpool
Culture Company has revealed plans for the August Bank Holiday
weekend, culminating in Liverpool 800 day on August 28; 800 years to
the day since King John signed the city’s first royal charter.
The showpiece of the day will be a huge city centre pageant,
featuring more than 800 performers decked out in costumes
representing Liverpool icons from the city’s past and present.
Councillor Mike Storey, Executive Member for the city’s 800th
birthday celebrations said:- “Liverpool’s 800th birthday is an
enormous milestone in the city’s history, and we want as many people
as possible to take part in the festivities over the Bank Holiday
weekend. This is a city that knows how to enjoy itself, and
we’ve worked hard to develop a programme that will generate a real
party atmosphere and bring the streets alive with music and
performance.”
Festivities get underway with the start of the annual Mathew Street
Music Festival on Sunday, August 26, which will feature 3 outdoor
stages on The Strand and Derby Square. On Bank Holiday Monday, an
extra 4 stages will be added, showcasing a range of new music and
tribute bands. Also on Bank Holiday Monday, thousands of
people will take part in more than 300 street parties across
Liverpool as communities come together to mark the 800th birthday.
The official party starts at 11am on Tuesday, as the Lord Mayor and
Lady Mayoress lead visiting dignitaries on a civic procession from
Liverpool Parish Church (Our Lady and St Nicholas) to Liverpool Town
Hall. At 11.30am – as the civic procession draws to a close at
the Town Hall – the 800th birthday pageant will start outside St
George’s Hall with the presentation of ‘The Liverpool Giant’.
The Giant is currently under construction at World Museum Liverpool,
where arts organisation Strange Cargo are building a 15ft model to
embody the spirit of the city, inspired by local myths and stories.
The Liverpool Giant will lead the pageant, accompanied by other
model companions including 2 ‘big heads’ based on local
personalities.
Following the models will be the Inishowen Carnival Group, who have
developed a large-scale performance based around 6 distinct local
themes – ranging from the Blitz of 1942 to Liverbirds – featuring
stilt-walkers, singing nuns, swirling flames and skating fish!
Hundreds of people from across all 6 boroughs of Merseyside will
take place in the pageant, including a number of arts, voluntary and
community organisations. There’s still an opportunity for members of
the public to take part in the parade – providing they’re willing to
dress for the occasion – and a limited number of spaces are
available for people at special costume making workshops at World
Museum Liverpool on August 25 and 26, to help them get ready for the
big day. Places must be booked in advance – details below.
The pageant will conclude with a street art performers animating the
streets and setting the scene for an afternoon of music and
entertainment in the city centre. Between 1pm and 4pm there’s a
chance to see performers from the Streetwaves young music
competition in Derby Square; while over in Williamson Square the
Cavern 50th anniversary stage will showcase the very best sounds
from days gone by. Even the city’s commercial district around Old
Hall Street will join in the fun, with a food and drink market,
street theatre, and schools sports day-style competitions. And
as the sun sets over the Mersey, organisers will make final
preparations to a spectacular firework finale, which will light up
the night sky from 10pm, illuminating some of the city’s most iconic
architecture and offering dramatic views from across the city.
Jason Harborow, Chief Executive of the Liverpool Culture Company,
said:- “Anticipation is already building over the birthday
weekend, and we’re really pleased with the plans that are in place.
From the street parties to the pageant; Mathew Street Music Festival
to the fireworks, it’s set to be a really special celebration for
the city.” |
