Blog Archives

Honouring former Cunard Line employees on 175 years of the company

26/6/2015

The Lord Lieutenant accompanied by Mr Ronald Muirhead attended a service of thanksgiving at Liverpool Parish Church ahead of Liverpool’s Transatlantic 175 celebrations. They joined around 150 past Cunard staff who took part in the short service before heading off to Liverpool Town Hall for refreshments.

Employees from the pre-1967 era of Cunard, some as old as 101, were met at Our Lady and St Nicholas by Cunard Bell Boys in their distinctive red uniforms.

Meanwhile former Cunard staff Carole Black and William Gibbens took part in the service, and mezzo Danielle Thomas performed 'Coming Home'.

Marking the start of Armed Forces day celebrations in Liverpool at the Town Hall

26/6/2015

Colonel Joseph Harkon MBE TD DL represented the Lord-Lieutenant at the start of Armed Forces celebrations in Liverpool. He joined the Lord Mayor, Cllr Tony Concepcion and other guests for the event at the Town Hall.

Merchant Taylors' School CCF Centenerary Royal Visit

25/6/2015

Merchant Taylors’ Schools were honoured to receive a flying visit from the Duke of York who arrived by helicopter, landing on the Boys’ School sports field. He joined the Schools in the centenary celebrations of the formal recognition of its Combined Cadet Force (CCF) in 1915 when it was originally established as the Officer Training Corps (OTC). Upon his arrival HRH was greeted by a group of excited flag waving pupils from both the Boys’ and Girls’ Junior Schools.

The Duke of York was the guest of honour at the morning church service of commemoration and celebration which took place at St Faith’s, Crosby. The service began a full day of celebrations and saw the dedication of new CCF contingent colours. Special tribute was also paid to the 155 Old Boys of the School who lost their lives in the First World War, as well as other conflicts since that time. HRH gave a reading to the congregation. Afterwards guests moved back over to the Boys’School for an afternoon of CCF demonstrations and presentations by the pupil cadets with an Inspection of the Guard of Honour by Commodore David Dutton, RN OBE. Commodore Dutton is a former pupil of the Boys’ School. During the Inspection cadets were treated to a passenger flight in a Merlin, the Royal Navy’s new generation of helicopters.

Merchant Taylors’ Schools’ Combined Cadet Force is one of the largest contingents in the country involving boys and girls from both senior schools (over 240). At the time of its formal recognition the CCF included only male cadets but now, for the first time ever, there are more girls than boys in the force.

A gala dinner was held that evening where the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead, was the Chief Guest. Many former pupils that have been involved in the CCF over the years - some of whom have gone on to pursue illustrious careers in the armed forces - came back to join in the celebratory dinner.

Waterloo Dinner held by the Merseyside Centurions in aid of the Soldiers' Charity

20/6/2015

The Lord-Lieutenant and Mr Muirhead were guests of honour of the Merseyside Centurions at their Waterloo Dinner. The Centurions are a group of supports of ABF The Soldiers' Charity.