Bishop of Liverpool vows to honour Hillsborough victims

The city of Liverpool will today stop and remember those killed 21 years ago in the Hillsborough tragedy.

At 3.06pm, many homes and workplaces will come to a halt to pay tribute to the 96 fans who lost their lives in Sheffield.

The Lord Mayor and other civic leaders will meet for a two minute silence and prayers at 11.45am this morning at the Town Hall.

Families of those who died on the Leppings Lane, survivors, Liverpool fans and former and current players and club staff will attend the annual memorial service at Anfield.

Late yesterday afternoon, the club said 9,000 tickets had been reserved.

The remaining 1,000 were available from the LFC ticket office after selling out from the Reds stores in Liverpool One and Williamson Square.

The Bishop of Liverpool, along with the newly-established Government committee he is chairing to reexamine the disaster, are expected to attend the service.

Today, he said his thoughts were with those who had lost loved ones on April 15, 1989.

The Right Reverend James Jones, added: "I know this is a very difficult and distressing time for the families of the 96 who lost their lives at Hillsborough.

"I recognise the impact the events at Hillsborough had in particular on those who survived the crush that day and also those who witnessed the traumatic events in the stadium or on television or who had friends at the game.

"It is our solemn responsibility to ensure that the memory of the 96 and all those whose lives were changed for ever by those terrible events, can never be forgotten."

The Hillsborough Justice Campaign group will leave the shop opposite The Kop at 1.30pm and walk to the memorial outside the ground before the service.

Phil Hammond, the former chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, who is continuing his recovery at home in Aigburth after suffering a brain haemorrhage and spending almost a year in hospital, will sadly not be able to attend today's service.

Phil, whose 14-year-old son, Philip junior, died in the 1989 tragedy, has been receiving physiotherapy and making good progress, but has just been diagnosed with shingles.

He said: "I was so looking forward to being at the service after having to miss last year's when I was in hospital and I feel bitterly disappointed not to be able to be there, but, unfortunately, it's just not possible.

"I would, though, like to take this opportunity to thank all those ECHO readers who have sent me their best wishes."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.