IN BRIEF
LIVERPOOL TO COMMEMORATE 40- YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF FALKLANDS LOSS
FOUR ACTS CHOSEN TO PERFORM AT BEATLE ’ S CHILDHOOD HOME
Liverpool is to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the loss of the Cunard and ACL owned and Liverpoolregistered Atlantic Conveyor in the Falklands conflict , in which 12 people died .
In 1982 , a South Atlantic Task Force of merchant ships – including Cunard ’ s Queen Elizabeth 2 and Atlantic Conveyor – joined the UK Government mission to regain control of the British Overseas Territory of Falkland Islands after an invasion by Argentine forces .
At the time , Cunard formed part of a consortium owning and operating the Atlantic Conveyor and her sister Atlantic Causeway , which was also deployed in the Task Force , with Cunard crew volunteering to sail and serve on each ship .
Atlantic Conveyor served as a logistics support vessel transporting aircraft , aircrew and supplies to the war zone and sailed from its homeport of Liverpool .
It was struck by two Exocet missiles on 25 May 1982 , as final preparations were being made on board QE2 for the transfer of more than 3,000 British troops and their kit at Cumberland Bay , South Georgia , in readiness for landings on the Falklands .
The dead included her Master Captain Ian North DSC and five other Cunard personnel . It was the first British Merchant Navy loss in conflict since WW2 .
The commemoration in Liverpool takes place on Wednesday 25 May and will also recognise the wider role of the Merchant Navy in the South Atlantic Task Force . At 9:15am , a service will take place at the Merchant Navy Memorial at the Pier Head , led by the Rector of Liverpool , the Reverend Canon Dr Crispin Pailing , attended by the Lord Mayor , civic dignitaries and representatives from Atlantic Container Line , Cunard , the South Atlantic Medal Association and the Falklands Islands government . Later , at 10:30am , a Service of Remembrance will take place at Liverpool Parish Church , and at the Atlantic Conveyor Memorial outside the church . It is being live streamed on You Tube . Members of the public are welcome to attend both services .
Four unsigned music acts have been given the chance to follow in the footsteps of The Beatles by writing and performing in the childhood home of Sir Paul McCartney .
The terraced house in Forthlin Road , Allerton , Liverpool , where some of the Fab Four ’ s most famous songs were written , is being opened to aspiring artists .
Singer-songwriter Serena Ittoo from Enfield , contemporary folk duo Humm from Bath , singer-songwriter Emily Theodora from Richmond and songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dullan from Wrexham were announced as the artists taking part in the Forthlin Sessions .
Sir Paul ’ s brother Mike McCartney said : “ It ’ s wonderful that the twoup , two-down we grew up in is hosting a new generation of musicians over 60 years on . From an ordinary house in an ordinary street , amazing things happened because of being given the opportunity to express ourselves creatively , and we ’ re passing that on today . I ’ m looking forward to seeing how the story of Forthlin , and what the public shares , sparks new music from these four acts and more widely . We want our little house to keep inspiring people for generations to come .”
The National Trust , which has restored the home so it is almost exactly as it was when Sir Paul lived there , is asking the public to share stories of how they were inspired by the music created at the house , where songs including Love Me Do , Please Please Me , I Saw Her Standing There and When I ’ m 64 were written and rehearsed .
Radio and TV presenter Annie Nightingale said the music created there “ lit the fuse ” for many and made them realise they could become whatever they wanted to be . She said : " I have spent all my life trying to say thank you to The Beatles , who made succeeding generations believe that , yes , you can achieve your dreams . There were no trappings , no luxury in the young McCartneys ’ home in Forthlin Road . But there was music and inspiration . They were saying , ‘ If we can make our dreams come true , so can you ."
The Forthlin Sessions will be played on June 17 and broadcast online .
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