HomeNews800th Birthday
Skies dazzle with the best fireworks, ever
Aug 29 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post
800th fireworks,
THE city of Liverpool was last night spectacularly illuminated for all to see, with the most breathtaking firework display the city has ever seen.
Crowds of people stood spellbound as thousands of pounds worth of fireworks lit-up the city’s skies in a fitting finale to Liverpool’s 800th birthday celebrations.
Fireworks fired off from in front of the Three Graces at the Pier Head and the roofs of the two cathedrals, lit up the River Mersey and sent silver sparks shooting over the heads of the city’s Liver Birds.
Families that had congregated at the Pier Head stood in silent awe gazing upwards at the spectacle.
Others spent the entire length of the display – lasting exactly 20 minutes and seven seconds – dancing to the music which blasted out across the city and had been carefully choreographed to match the light show that was going on above people’s heads.
But at the end of the show all who’d seen it broke out onto rapturous applause – saying it had been the highlight of the whole day’s celebrations.
And after harsh criticism at the organisation of the weekend’s Mathew Street Festival, those who gathered to watch the show said the display finally proved that the city did really now how to stage a high-profile event.
Pauline Madden, of Blundellsands, said: “It was absolutely superb – truly fabulous. We have heard people criticising the Mathew Street Festival, saying that they were really disappointed. But this was brilliant.”
Sunita Patel, from North Wales, had invited her family from Coventry to enjoy the display and said none were disappointed.
She said: “Liverpool should be very proud of the display it put on – we would never have seen anything like this in Coventry.”.
Song choices to accompany the spectacle included Groove Armada’s Hands of Time and, of course, Beatles’ classic Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.
The final blast included red love hearts and was set to Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band.
Eight-year-old twins Sophie and Jonathan Webb from Blundellsands said they had enjoyed the show.
Jonathan said: “We were allowed to stay up late to come and see this and it was the best firework display I have ever seen.”
Their mother Karen Webb added: “Our train to get into Liverpool had been cancelled but Merseytravel sent a bus for us to ensure we did not miss this.
“It just goes to show what this city can do when we put our minds to it.”
* THE fire service was last night called to the Metropolitan Cathedral after a small fire broke out.
Two fire engines attended, and it is understood that the fire was caused by a firework from the display. No injuries or damage were reported early today.
