LIVERPOOL remembered George Harrison 10 years after the former Beatle lost his battle with cancer.
Flags flew at half mast at the Town Hall and St George’s Hall yesterday to commemorate the death of one of its most famous sons.
In the morning, friends and fans of George Harrison gathered for an act of remembrance at Liverpool Cathedral.
People from around the world brought flowers to mark a decade since the youngest Beatle’s death.
Canon Richard White conducted a short blessing before the flowers, as well as thousands of rose petals, were scattered from the Dulverton Bridge on to the cathedral floor below.
Canon White said: “George was generous with his time and his attention, as well as with his wealth. “He wasn’t captivated by material possessions. He used his influence for good.
“Fifteen years before Live Aid, he held the first benefit concerts in New York for Bangladesh. This simple act of remembrance was designed to mark this important date, and to celebrate his life.”
In the afternoon, there was a free concert at St George’s Hall, celebrating George’s life through music, organised by Denise Theophilus, along with Bill Heckle at Cavern City Tours and Liverpool City Council.
Ms Theophilus said: “It has been a wonderful day. We have had people from all over the world come to pay their tribute to George. When I first started to plan this event, I could have had no idea how big it would become.”
The free concert was over-subscribed, with fans travelling from as far as the Caribbean to attend.
In the presence of the Lord Mayor, acts from across the musical spectrum paid tribute to the “quiet Beatle” in the splendour of the concert hall.
Singer Tsema started the concert with a haunting a cappella rendition of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, before a specially created band, The Rebels, played some of George’s favourite rock and roll songs. They were joined by New York singer Jeff Slate, of the Badge, and later by Singh Strings, for an East West rendition of some of George's Indian Beatle tunes.
This was followed by The Liverpool Ukulele Orchestra, The Mersey Beatles, The Radha Krishna Temple and Andre Barreau from The Bootleg Beatles, who performed songs from George’s solo years.
The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Frank Prendergast, said: “This is a perfect venue for a concert like this. So many people have performed and spoken here, so it is fitting that it was the focal point for such an important day to celebrate George’s life and music.”
