Contractors busy cleaning the Monument ahead of Royal visit on Friday

Contractors working for Sefton Council were busy cleaning the Monument this morning ahead of the visit by the Princess Royal on Friday.

Southport war memorial turns 100 years old on 18 November this year, having been commissioned by Lord Earl of Derby in 1923. To commemorate this momentous occasion a re-dedication ceremony will take place in Southport on Friday 29 September.

HRH The Princess Royal will be attending the event in her capacity as President of the Women’s Section of the Royal British Legion. This will be the first formal Royal visit to Southport since 1955.

The event is being organised by Major Nick McEntee TD VR REME, Chairman of the Royal British Legion, Southport.

The event will include a parade of veterans, servicemen and women, army cadets and schoolchildren, accompanied by a marching band. The parade will form up in Victoria Park before heading out at around 11.15am onto Duke Street, along Lord Street to form up around the war memorial in London Street Square.

At approximately 12:00pm a drumhead service attended by VIPs will be conducted at the war memorial, and a commemorative plaque will be unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal. The parade will return to Victoria Park along the same route at around 1.15pm.

In the afternoon, The Atkinson will welcome Her Royal Highness to view an exhibition of artwork by local school children based on their reflections on Remembrance and also host a luncheon for VIPs.

For the purposes of security, it is necessary for all areas of The Atkinson to remain closed to the public throughout the day on Friday 29 September 2023, re-opening at 7:00pm for the China Crisis gig in the Theatre.

There will be a number of temporary road closures in place across Southport, including Lord Street, Victoria Way and sections of London Street, Neville Street and Waverley Street.