Liverpool marks VE Day 75 by turning red white and blue

Liverpool will mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day this week by turning red, white and blue.

The city’s original plans to celebrate the landmark – including street parties, parades and church services – have had to be curtailed because of Coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, on Friday key buildings in the city centre including the Three Graces, Town Hall, St George’s Hall and Liverpool Cathedral will be illuminated in the colours of the Union Jack.

Exchange Flags, Liverpool ONE, the M&S Bank Arena and Radio City Tower are among other locations which are also taking part.

Meanwhile a VE Day ‘thank you’ image will be beamed from digital screens across the city from the M62 to Anfield Stadium, Scotland Road and the Royal Court.

And people are being invited to get involved by creating 1940s playlists, downloading special VE Day bunting and posters from the Culture Liverpool website HERE, cooking war time recipes or researching their own family’s role in the war.

Liverpool played a key role in the Second World War as the headquarters from where the Battle of the Atlantic was fought. It was also the most bombed British city outside London, and almost 4,000 civilians were killed in German raids across Merseyside between 1940 and 1942.

Cllr Wendy Simon, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Events, said: “Before the pandemic, there were plans in place to celebrate VE Day in style - parades, street parties, church services and a display of military assets were all being organised to mark the event.

“Although things are now different, it doesn’t mean Friday May 8 is any less important and we still want to do as much as we can to celebrate this momentous time in recent history.”