The leaving of Liverpool

On a drizzly day in October, a lone Giant figure woke had washed up on the beach in New Brighton next to the lighthouse at Fort Perch Rock. As the sun started to rise, onlookers watched and waited for him to wake from his slumber and gasped as he slowly started to open his eyes and sat up. This Giant visitor was serenaded by a lone violinist sat atop a truck filled with violins playing the moving “The leaving of Liverpool” to aptly end his finale visit to the region.

A key part of the story, Jo Pue was the violinist who serenaded the Giant on his journey and provided a soundtrack atop more than 300 violins, donated to the show by residents and businesses locally and from afar. Post event, these violins have formed part of the legacy of the Giant Spectacular event and have made their way to school children across the city region.

The following schools and community organisations have already received donations.

Liverpool Schools

Primary Schools

St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Toxteth (violin after school clubs)
St Cuthbert’s Primary School, Aviemore Road, Kensington
St Sebastian’s Catholic Primary School, Holly Road, Kensington
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic – In Harmony Project: violins will be used across their 3 In Harmony primary schools including All Saints Catholic Primary School, Anfield; The Beacon CofE Primary School, Everton and Faith Primary School, Everton

Liverpool Community Organisations

The Liverpool Irish Centre, Comhaltas, Irish music tuition
Irish Community Care, Liverpool and heir partner organisations including ADHD Foundation; Central Liverpool Seventh Day Adventist Church, Kensington; North Liverpool Seventh Day Adventist Church, Bootle

Wirral Schools

Primary Schools:

Overchurch Junior School, Moreton, Upton, Wirral
St George’s Primary School, Wallasey (upper school)

Secondary Schools:

St Anselms College, Prenton, Wirral (music department)
Birkenhead High School Academy (BHSA), Prenton (music department)
Upton Hall Convent School (FCJ), Upton, Wirral (music department)
Red Court St Anselms, Wirral

Wirral Community Music Organisations

Melody Makers, Fiddle Project, Wirral
The Hive Youth Zone, Birkenhead, Wirral
Wallasey Seventh Day Adventist Church, Wallasey, Wirral

Special Thanks to Overchurch Junior School, Wiral, – to the pupils, caretaker and headteacher Mr Lahive who have helped sort and distribute the violins.

A Giant Legacy

The leaving of Liverpool might have been a fitting song for the Giants leaving their beloved city but they have left a musical legacy that will inspire generations to come, as schools and community groups are attesting too already.

“…Thank you so much for donating the fiddles to Liverpool Irish Centre. On behalf of everyone at the centre we are delighted you thought of us and please pass on our gratitude to Culture Liverpool and the Giant Spectacular for their sincere generosity. We will endeavour to tell the children at the centre in many years to come where the violins came from.”

Liverpool Irish Centre

“We were so pleased to accept the violins as we were in dire need of the instruments. Children were having to share violins in year 4 and many of the instruments were broken. Our children love learning the violin and have been inspired by the wonderful gifts. They were captivated by the magical visit of the Giants and watched Jo, their violin teacher, on her journey with the violins in New Brighton.”

Anne Sheridan, Acting Head Teacher, Overchurch Junior School

“Being part of the Giants legacy violin project has transformed music provision at St George’s. We have been able to provide each child with access to a violin and invest in high quality music education. Our recent concert when 60 children performed a 10 piece ensemble to families amazed everybody and demonstrates what can be achieved.”

Mr Bernard Cassidy, Head Teacher