‘All Together Now’: The Christmas Truce Statue

Cultural Programme
The Bombed Out Church, Liverpool
15th-21st December 2014, 12-6pm each day
NB: Weather permitting…

On 25th December 1914, as day dawned over a Flanders battlefield, soldiers who had faced each other in battle climbed out of their trenches. In the middle of no-man’s land the battle-weary soldiers, who had hours before been intent on fighting each other, tentatively shook hands. Amidst this uneasy peace, someone produced a football and the war was left behind.

A hundred years on, an iconic statue is now being created to commemorate and celebrate this truce and the most famous football game in history. It will be a symbol of peace and hope and a call for a renewed worldwide cessation of violence in honour of those brave boys who “joined together and decided not to fight”.

The resin sculpture will be transported from Liverpool and be exhibited in Germany, before travelling to Flanders to be temporarily installed on the site of the truce on Christmas Day, 100 years on.

Read more about the statue here

Sunday 14th

11am: Install at church; decorate church with Hillsborough Memorial scarves, and children's homemade lanterns.
12-6pm: Open for viewing.

Monday 15th

12-6pm: Open for viewing.
Peace songs played on the sound system all day, loud as possible, with emphasis on 'All Together Now' by The Peace Collective (released that day);
1pm: ‘The 1 o’clock Poem’ begins. Rule is: if no-one follows you with their poem, then you don’t carry on. The scene dies there. Someone else has to show bravery, and step into No-Man’s Land…
We kick off our '1 Million Handshakes For Peace' project.
Official Photographer Mark Loudon. Appeal for 1 million pics of handshakes by Christmas. Send and tweet them to us NOW!
18.30: Socialist Singers revisit songs of the trenches and sing about the Christmas truce
19.14: 100 gongs for World Peace. Suzie Price’s large Paiste gong, along with the 6 car wheels at the church, ring out 100 times to mark the centenary.
NB: Peter Hooton will make an appearance either tonight or tomorrow.
Acoustic performance of ‘All Together Now’?

Tuesday 16th

12-6: Open for viewing.
1pm: ‘The 1 o’clock Poem’
Exhibition by local artists. Alan Murray. Jamie Reid. Challenger X…

Wednesday 17th

12-6: Open for viewing.
9.30 – 10am: Lord Mayor of Liverpool visit
1pm: ‘The 1 o’clock Poem’
7pm: Panto in the evening, statue stays put. Just enjoys the show!

Thursday 18th

12-6: Open for viewing.
1pm: ‘The 1 o’clock Poem’
7pm: Screening of film 'Joyeaux Noel'
10pm: Statue leaves church after film, ready for installation in school next morning.

Friday 19th

8am: Installation in playground @ St Michael's school, Aigburth for morning carols (leave at 2pm, as school breaks up)
1pm: ‘The 1 o’clock Poem’: ‘Mighty Mr Aldridge’.
2.30pm: Arrive at Anglican Cathedral for exhibition at the Echo Carol service and The Farm gig that evening (commencing 7pm)

Saturday 20th

Collection from Cathedral at 11pm. Return to The Bombed Out Church. 12-6. Open for viewing.
1pm: ‘The 1 o’clock Poem’
3pm: Matinee performance of an abridged version of the play 'All Quiet on the Western Front' by Burjesta Theatre
5pm: ‘The Tale of Johannes Bartels (German soldier)’
7pm: Evening performance ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’

Sunday 21st

12-6: Open for viewing.
1pm: ‘The 1 o’clock Poem’
6pm: Chant for World Peace.
19.14: 100 gong farewell, as statue leaves Bombed Out church for the Front…

Monday 22nd

…But first, a proper game of footy! Leave for Stoke.
Exhibit around the ground ahead of Stoke v Chelsea.
3-6pm: Exhibit next to Stan
7pm: Pitch-side!
KO 8pm.
8.45: Half Time. Move to best location for all fans to see after the game.

Tuesday 23rd

Arrive Ypres, Belgium, 19.14.

Wednesday 24th

Unveiling, Messines, Belgium, 19.14.

Thursday 25th

Commemorative centenary kickabout, Flanders Peace Field and environs. All day.

Printer friendly page

Sorry Comments Closed