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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Beth Lindop

People offered rare glimpse of Liverpool artist's 'magnificent' Queen portrait

People are being given the chance to catch a rare glimpse of a Liverpool artist's "magnificent" portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

The painting, by Wavertree -born artist James Cliffe, was completed in 1971 and has previously hung in Wallasey and Birkenhead Town Halls. The large oil-on-canvas portrait shows the Queen in the garter robes, an elaborate ceremonial dress dating back to the 15th century.

Cliffe, who passed away in 1994, was familiar sight at Bluecoat Chambers, where he had a studio for more than 25 years. His speciality was Liverpool characters such as the sculptor Arthur Dooley, lord mayors and mayoresses and Queen Elizabeth II.

READ MORE: Hundreds line banks of River Mersey for 'maritime spectacle' to Queen

His portrait of her majesty is now on display at the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, in Birkenhead, with members of the public invited to visit to pay their respects to the late monarch. The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Jeff Green, made his own trip to see the painting yesterday, describing Cliffe's work as "magnificent".

Earlier this week, Wirral Council also offered an an update on planned closures taking place in the borough next Monday to mark the Queen's funeral. Most council buildings will close on Monday, with the exception to this being Birkenhead Town Hall which will remain open for weddings.

The borough's cemeteries and crematoriums will also remain open for funerals. There is set to be a live viewing of the state funeral at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton.

Free tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis, with people asked to call 0151 666 0000 from 10am on Wednesday, September 14 to book.

Books of Condolence are available for residents to sign at the following venues:

  • Birkenhead Town Hall (9am-6pm daily except Sunday and Monday),
  • Eastham Library (9am-6pm daily except Sunday and Monday)
  • Floral Pavilion (9am-6pm daily but on Monday, September 19 only until end of the funeral broadcast),
  • West Kirby Concourse (9am-6pm daily except Monday). All Books of Condolence will close at 5pm on Tuesday, September 20.

A council spokesperson said: "If you have scheduled an appointment to register a birth or death on Monday 19 September, the team will contact you direct to make other arrangements. There are no planned changes to bin collections.

"If your bin is normally emptied on a Monday, please put it out in the usual place by 7am. Our contact centre and phone lines will be closed on the day of the State Funeral.

"If there is an emergency please use our out of hours numbers found on our website. If you are in danger, call 999."

We have turned comments off on this story but you can share your tribute in our online condolence book here.

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Queen Elizabeth II: Leave your tribute in the Liverpool ECHO's online condolence book

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