1914-2014 : Liverpool se souvient

Cet été, la ville anglaise de Liverpool et Nantes, la française, ont commémoré la Première Guerre mondiale. Avec mon fils cadet, nous avons passé un week-end mémorable à Liverpool parmi un million de visiteurs. La ville a su mettre en scène l’évènement avec élégance… et un petit coup de main de leurs amis français.

 

Les marionnettistes du Royal de Luxe et la Petite Géante

Trois générations réunies

Ce sont ses habitants qui font de Liverpool une ville particulière. En effet, ils savent faire preuve d’un esprit, d’une chaleur et d’une force uniques. Quand mon fils et moi sommes arrivés à la station Lime Street, la ville grouillait déjà d’enthousiasme. Nous avons apprécié cet accueil et les conversations engagées dans la rue avec de parfaits inconnus. Des familles entières étaient réunies dans les rues — enfants, parents et grands-parents. Les plus jeunes attendaient calmement et gentiment malgré leur évidente impatience.

La compagnie théâtrale de Nantes

De nombreux spectateurs se sont remémoré la précédente visite des Géants à Liverpool pour le centenaire du naufrage du Titanic. Les gens étaient si heureux de les revoir que bon nombre d’entre eux ont assisté à chaque journée ou presque de commémoration. Certains ont même reconnu avoir versé quelques larmes en écoutant l’histoire du Pals' Battalion de la ville.

Liverpool est attachée à la compagnie théâtrale nantaise Royal de Luxe, et à Jean-Luc Courcoult, son directeur. Trois marionnettes géantes, une grand-mère, une petite fille et son chien El Xolo racontaient cette histoire. L’énergie des marionnettistes français m’a stupéfiée. 

Les familles observent la procession de la Grand-mère

On dit souvent que seul Londres et les autres capitales du monde peuvent organiser de grands évènements culturels et sportifs. Je ne suis pas de cet avis, mon fils non plus d’ailleurs. Un supporter de Liverpool pourrait-il visiter la ville sans passer par le stade d’Anfield ? (Désolée pour les fans d’Everton) Le football coule dans les veines de la ville. Mon londonien de fils était ravi de prendre une photo du maillot de Steven Gerrard. 

  

Un fan de Liverpool photographie le maillot de son idole

Le vestiaire était étonnamment sobre, ce qui nous a permis de constater que le glamour ne l’emporte pas toujours.

Cette ville sait aussi reconnaître certaines réalités. Ainsi, elle fait face à son passé dans le Musée international de l’esclavage. Même au sein du musée Anfield et ses vitrines chargées de trophées, des hommages respectueux sont rendus aux vies perdues lors des catastrophes de Hillsborough et Heysel.

Les coquelicots en céramique de la Tour de Londres sont particulièrement créatifs et impressionnants. Liverpool a souhaité une commémoration différente et qui attire l’attention de ses habitants. Le Giant Spectacular était gratuit et des familles entières pouvaient assister aux évènements. Ils ont écouté l’histoire de leur ville, oubliée ou inconnue de beaucoup. Je suis certaine que 2014, et donc 1914, resteront gravés dans les mémoires des enfants. Les excellents musées de la ville sauront leur permettre de les revoir et de raconter à leur tour cette histoire à leurs enfants.

Des vies perdues dans les Flandres

La compagnie théâtrale française a retransmis la réalité du Pals’ Battalion de Liverpool comme aucun mémorial n’aurait pu l’égaler. Désormais, les sacrifices et les souffrances de nos ancêtres auront plus de sens.

 

Les tranchées des Flandres où tant de soldats se sont sacrifiés

 Traduction de l'anglais par Céline Petit

1914-2014: Liverpool remembers

The English city of Liverpool and the French city of Nantes commemorated the World War I anniversary together this summer. My younger son and I spent a truly memorable weekend in Liverpool along with one million other visitors. Liverpool staged the event in style... with a little help from their French friends.

Nantes' Royal de Luxe puppeteers with the Girl in Liverpool

Three generations together

Liverpool is a special city because of its people. Liverpudlians have a unique blend of wit, warmth and resilience. When my son and I arrived at Liverpool's Lime Street station, the city was already abuzz with excitement. We felt very welcome. Complete strangers just started up conversations with us. Whole families were out on the streets together - children, parents and grandparents. The children waited patiently and politely despite their obvious excitement.

Nantes theatre company

Many spectators recalled the previous Giants' visit to Liverpool for the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic. Such was the enthusiasm for their return that many attended nearly every single day of the commemorations. They admitted to shedding tears over the tale of the Liverpool Pals' Battalion.

Liverpool has taken the Nantes theatre company, Royal de Luxe and director, Jean-Luc Courcoult to its heart. Three giant puppets told the tale: Grandmother, Girl and Xolo the dog. I was amazed at the energy of the French puppeteers.

Families watch the Grandmother in the procession

It is often said that only London and the world's other capital cities can stage major cultural and sporting events. I beg to differ. My son certainly does. How could a Liverpool supporter visit and not do a stadium tour at Anfield? (Sorry Everton fans). Football runs in the lifeblood of this city. My London-born son was delighted to take a picture of Steven Gerrard's shirt.

 

A Liverpool fan takes a picture of his hero's shirt

The home dressing room was surprisingly subdued. It just goes to show that glamour does not always win.

This city does not sweep things under the carpet. It confronts its past in the International Slavery Museum. Even within Anfield's museum with its bulging trophy cabinets, there were respectful commemorations to the lives lost in the Hillsborough and Heysel disasters.

The ceramic poppies at the Tower of London are spectacularly creative and impressive. Liverpool handled its 1914 commemoration differently, in a way that captured the attention of its people. The Giant Spectacular was free and whole families were able to watch the events unfold together. They heard a story about their city that many had forgotten or never knew. I have no doubt that 2014, and therefore 1914, will live on in the memories of the children there. The city's excellent museums will be able record the events for them to revisit and retell the tales to their children. 

Lives sacrificed in Flanders

The French theatre company brought the reality of the Liverpool's Pals Battalion to life in a way that no memorial could ever do. Now the importance of ancestors' sacrifices and hardships will have greater meaning.

Flanders' trenches where so many died

Bristol: 2015 European Green Capital

Historically, Bristol has had a flair for innovation. My home city in the West of England has its own unique character and sense of fun. On 4^th May 2014, a hilly, city-centre street was closed to traffic and turned into a giant waterslide. The event was part of the local council’s Make Sundays Special programme. The pictures of Bristolians sliding went viral on social media.  A positive image of the 2015 European Green Capital was broadcast not just locally, or even nationally, but globally.

The potential of a green, traffic-less city received active promotion. This communications success clearly shows that green policies can spread from small, local initiatives. The memory of a great day without traffic will live on in the collective, local memory. Hopefully, other European cities will be inspired to carry out similar ventures.

Global warming concerns

Not all great initiatives have to be disseminated from a nation’s capital city. There is often a greater sense of belonging outside the capital. I have spent my entire working career in London, but my sense of “home” is still firmly rooted in the West Country. The potential consequences of global warming hit me this summer when I saw the flooded Somerset levels. Global warming maps seem to predict that my beloved Somerset may be permanently under water in the future.

Brunel: a great innovator

Bristol has strong historical connections with innovation. The city is closely associated with the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the second most famous Briton. His Clifton Suspension Bridge still stands as the city’s most famous landmark (see above). Brunel is also renowned for the Great Western Railway linking Bristol and London and the steamship SS Great Britain.

Bristol and the New World

Bristol even lays claim to the discovery of America. Christopher Columbus did not land in South America until 1498. Italian-born John Cabot sailed from Bristol to discover Newfoundland and thus North America in 1497. Bristol’s merchants financed his voyage. It has even been claimed that America was named after Richard Amerike.

Nantes sets an example

Bristol has played a great role in British maritime history. The city’s past is not all glorious. It cannot be denied that Bristol grew wealthy as a result of the slave trade. There remains some unease in Bristol as to how to handle this past. The French city of Nantes perhaps showed the way by confronting its role in the slave trade with its Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery. Nantes took the lead as the European Green Capital in 2013. The city won recognition for its leadership in water management and waste recycling.

Bristol setting an example

We Bristolians are immensely proud of our city. Like many of us and many other cities, Bristol has both great and unsavoury elements in its past. Environmental concerns mean that we all need to reform our habits. We can all do our bit. Going green may mean choosing the long-term over short-term option. We may have to select a more expensive energy efficient, environmentally friendly product. We need to make conscious efforts to recycle and walk or cycle instead of taking the car.

Bristol is looking forward to leading the way as Europe’s Green Capital in 2015. Take a look at Bristol's modern digital website revealing plans already under way.

What green initiatives should Bristol take in 2015?