Liverpool will once again fall silent to mark the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
Tuesday, 15 April, marks 36 years since 97 people lost their lives at an FA Cup semi-final fixture from which they should have come home.
Liverpool Council has confirmed it will hold a tribute to those unlawfully killed at the 1989 match at 3.06pm in the city centre. This was the time the fateful match was stopped at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium.
As is tradition, the Town Hall on Castle Street will be lit up in red on Tuesday evening. As the clock strikes 3.06pm, a minute’s silence will begin at Exchange Flags at the rear of the building.
Following the silence, a bell will toll 97 times in tribute to each victim, and then an instrumental version of You’ll Never Walk Alone will be played.
The period of remembrance will be led by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Richard Kemp CBE who will be joined by Councillor Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council, and council chief executive, Andrew Lewis.
Members of the public are encouraged to gather in the location to show their respect and remember those who were lost on that tragic day for the city.
On the day, Liverpool Town Hall will be open to the public from 2pm to 4pm to allow people to see a special Freedom of the City plaque which is engraved with the names of the 97 fans who lost their lives as a result of the disaster.
The honour was bestowed on the 96 in September 2016, and Andrew Devine’s name was added in May 2022 after becoming the disaster’s 97th victim.
The Exchange Flags tribute will be livestreamed on Liverpool City Council’s Facebook page, which can be found by searching Liverpool City Council and Instagram lpoolcitycouncil channels from 3pm.
Last year, Cllr Robinson and then-Lord Mayor Cllr Mary Rasmussen laid flowers at the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield in remembrance of the 35th anniversary of the disaster. A banner was also hung from the Town Hall which has been seen before at Anfield, which read: “To the victims of Hillsborough, you’ll never walk alone.”
Image: https://depositphotos.com/
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