Birthday treat lifts a city’s spirits

Aug 29 2007 by Liza Williams & Ashley Wray, Liverpool Daily Post

Liza Williams and Ashley Wray joined the people of Liverpool on the streets for the big birthday celebrations

A VIBRANT street parade, yellow submarines on wheels and normally staid business executives bouncing on space hoppers were among the sights enjoyed by thousands who celebrated Liverpool’s 800th birthday yesterday.

The city enjoyed a weird and wonderful array of entertainment, including the huge parade through the city streets at midday, led by a lady giant named Jude, after the Beatles song Hey Jude, a school-style sports day for adults and live music.

Leading the dignitaries in the civic procession were the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Paul Clark, and Lady Mayoress Hilary Clark, with city councillors, the Bishop of Liverpool James Jones and Archbishop of Liverpool Patrick Kelly.

Themes in the parade ranged from the Blitz, during which pilots acted out a dog fight, to The Merchant Port, with ships, pirates and a three-wheeled bike carrying a moving ocean.

Another section of the pageant named Octopuses Garden, featured red squid on stilts, blue jellyfish, yellow submarines, and a massive pink yellow and green octopus.

A horse-drawn carriage carried two members of what is believed to be Liverpool’s oldest family, Anthony and Pauline George, whose family tree dates back to 1543.

A Football Magic section depicted the city’s love for the “beautiful game”, with representatives of both Liverpool FC and Everton FC rolling oversized footballs along the route and carrying a huge net.

Musical accompaniment was provided by the Duke of Lancaster regimental band, followed by a Samba band which marched down the street with oversized drums hanging from their waists creating a deafening beat.

The parade reached Castle Street at 1pm where dignitaries at the front took their seats on a platform set up in the shadow of the Town Hall.

Jude, the Liverpool giant, then rounded the corner surrounded by drums, green Liver birds and bright costumes of pink, purple, yellow and orange.

The 15ft giant, which took five weeks to create, presented the Lord Mayor with a birthday gift for the city and the crowd sang happy birthday as confetti and streamers shot into the air.

Radio City broadcaster Pete Price was the master of ceremonies. He paid respect to murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones from Croxteth Park by asking for a moment of silence.

He said: “This is for a boy we all love. This has upset us all, and has touched our hearts.”

Mr Price then led a sing-along to the Beatles’ hit, Hey Jude, accompanied by the Merseyside police band. The event was rounded off with a song in recognition of Liverpool’s twin city, with a rendition of Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York.

Afterwards council leader Warren Bradley said: “This was a great way for the city to mark its 800th year, just imagine what we can do next year.”

Despite the buoyant mood, embattled Liverpool Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow was booed as he arrived outside the Town Hall, a reaction he later shook off, saying: “It was nothing, only one person was booing.”

Onlooker Lesley O’Boyle said: “We’ve really enjoyed it today. It was just a ladies’ day out for us, and it was just fabulous.

“The costumes were amazing, and the musicians were really good. The most impressive was the Samba Band at the end, with the drums. It’s the best celebration we’ve been to.”

Participants from the pageant spent the afternoon performing in squares throughout the city. Thousands of people enjoyed musical entertainment in Williamson Square on a stage set up in honour of the Cavern’s contribution to the city since it opened 50 years ago, with acts including Nube 9 from Buenos Aires and Rocks Off from Gothenburg.

Derby Square was equally popular with acts from the Streetwaves young music competition performing.

Elsewhere, a giant blue wheelie bin, a motorised grand piano and a Yellow Submarine were also darting around the city, to the amusement of the crowd.

The commercial district around Old Hall Street held a school sports day with teams competing in egg-and-spoon, sack and space hopper races.

The winning foursome was from engineering firm Clancy Consulting. Team member Cathy Docherty said: “I did the space hopper race and the egg and spoon, I can’t believe we won, I dropped my egg. We have won lunch at the Radisson and it was such a laugh. It was a great day.”

An exhibition was erected in The Daily Post and Echo atrium looking at the history of the newspapers and stalls set up outside included one from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra). Vice chairman of Camra John Armstrong said: “It has been good for us, we have been besieged with people wanting to taste the ale which has proved really popular.

“It is interesting to see how many women have enjoyed it. Real ale is often perceived as a male drink.”

Paul Rice, chief executive of Liverpool Community District Partnership, which organised the Old Hall Street events, said: “We are really pleased with the way everyone entered into the spirit of things and supported the day.”

And the 800th passenger arriving at Liverpool John Lennon Airport yesterday won return flights to the city to celebrate the birthday.

Barbara Strasser, from Switzerland, was just about to reclaim her luggage after her flight from Geneva when airport staff told her that she was yesterday’s 800th arrival and she had won the tickets.

lizawilliams@dailypost.co.uk