Band of 96 lights to remember Hillsborough

A SPECIAL art sculpture commissioned by Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson was unveiled at the 25th anniversary service of the Hillsborough disaster at Anfield.

The Band of Life, created by Julian Taylor at Bridewell Studios in the city, is a large metal circle filled with lights.

It symbolises the bond between the families, friends and survivors who were brought together for the love of their lost ones.

It has a minimalist design with an emphasis on the 96 lights, which represent those who lost their lives in 1989.

It was created in co-operation with the Hillsborough Family Support Group and revealed for the first time on Tuesday 15 April.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “I met with Margaret Aspinall and the Hillsborough Family Support Group and talked through the idea of a sculpture last year.

“My thoughts were about commissioning an artistic piece that would represent the bond between those who lost their lives, their families and the survivors and how that could best be represented creatively and emotionally.

“The Band of Life sculpture was worked up with the artist Julian Taylor who has made a beautiful piece of work for this special anniversary.

“We had seen work in progress but we were delighted with how stunning it looked on the pitch. It was very poignant to see the lights lit up one by one representing each life lost in the disaster.”

A suitable and fitting location will be identified in due course for people to view it.