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Cunard 100 – A Centenary
Celebration
1 of Liverpool's 3 Graces is
celebrating a very special birthday on Saturday, 2 July 2016, as it marks the
centenary of the Cunard Building, and there are plans in place to make sure it
is a very happy birthday for the iconic venue.
To kick start Saturday's celebrations, Cunard's Queen Elizabeth will sail in to
the city at around 7.15am, and will remain berthed at Liverpool's Cruise
Terminal until around 10.15pm when she will depart against a backdrop of
stunning fireworks.
Earlier in the day, the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Roz Gladden will
join Captain of Queen Elizabeth, Inger Klein Olsen (1st ever female captain of
Cunard ship) to unveil an impressive, 50metre long stone seat which stretches
the full length of the Cunard Building. The granite bench, located on the Strand
side of the building, features a specially designed piece of artwork called The
Journey which uses bronze illustrations and writing to chart the history of
Cunard, from 1839 to the present day.
2 free concerts are then set to take place on the Pier Head in the afternoon and
then once again in the evening. Visitors are encouraged to come along and bring
their flags and singing voices as they are entertained with performances from
the Royal Marines Band, Liverpool Welsh Choral and opera singer Danielle Thomas
who will be singing classics such as:- 'Rule Britannia' and
'Land of Hope and Glory' alongside contemporary numbers such as:-
'Proud Mary' and 'All You Need is Love'.
And of course, because of the occasion, each concert will feature Happy Birthday
as the finale.
The 1st concert will take place at 2.30pm until around 3.15pm, and then will
be repeated 9.30pm to 10.15pm, finishing just before Queen Elizabeth departs.
There is also the opportunity to be 1 of the 1st visitors to the Cunard
Building's brand new exhibition dedicated to 'The Jam.' This is the
1st weekend
About The Young Idea opens to the public and is packed full with
never before seen archives and memorabilia. The exhibition is being described as
a must visit not only for fans of 'The Jam.' , but for music lovers everywhere.
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Roz Gladden, said:- "This is a very
special day in the history of both the City and of Cunard. I am delighted to be
joining Cunard's first ever female captain to unveil The Journey which will be a
striking addition to the area around the building, befitting of the heritage and
grandeur of the Grade II* listed building.
The seat recounts some of the defining moments in the epic Cunard journey and
it's the perfect birthday present for 1 of the most recognisable buildings in
the world."
Assistant Mayor and Cabinet Member for culture, tourism and events, Councillor
Wendy Simon, said:- "Liverpool loves a party, and we couldn't let this
centenary pass without a fitting celebration.
The arrival of Queen Elizabeth once again on the Mersey will, as always, be a
spectacular sight and the significance of the date is a real nod to the role
Liverpool, and the Cunard Building itself, has played in Cunard's history.
The arrival of a Cunard vessel in to the City always draws a crowd, so we wanted
to make sure that we put on an event so people can feel part of the
celebrations.
We always get a fantastic reaction to any live music, so what better than to
organise a free concert which encourages a good old sing along and makes it a
great day out for all the family; with a fireworks finale topping off the fun.
At the heart of this, it's a celebration of a centenary of the Cunard Building
and I think it's important we think differently about how we use our historic
venues. This weekend will see Cunard opening its doors to a brand new exhibition
charting the rise and success of The Jam. With more plans in the pipeline, there
is a real sense that we are opening up the building once again for the public,
and hopefully can attract a raft of new audiences who can make the most of this
waterfront gem."
Cunard Director Angus Struthers, said:- "Queen Elizabeth will lead
Cunard's celebrations for the centenary of the famous building bearing our name.
It promises to be another great day on the Mersey and at the Pier Head.
Cunard Building embodies the bond we have with the City of Liverpool. As the
centrepiece of the famous waterfront it provides our guests on board with a
unique sense of arrival in 1 of the world's great Cities. We can't wait to be
back in our spiritual home."
For all the latest information, visit:-
CultureLiverpool.Co.UK, or follow @culturelpool on Twitter or
Culture Liverpool on Facebook.
Tickets for The Jam exhibition will cost up to £9.50, with discounts at off peak
times, and are limited each day to ensure the best possible experience for
audiences. For more information, or to buy tickets, click on
here. |
