Fans gathered in Liverpool on Wednesday for a vigil to mark the 30th anniversary of the murder of John Lennon.
In the city which produced the Beatles, the focus of the memorials will be the Peace and Harmony monument unveiled earlier this year in memory of Lennon, who died when he was only 40.
Fans will light candles and sing songs and remember the global icon whose life was abruptly ended by a lone gunman’s bullet outside a luxury apartment block in New York on December 8, 1980.
The Peace and Harmony monument was unveiled on October 9 — his birthday — by Lennon’s first wife Cynthia and their son Julian in Chavasse Park.
In the northwest English port city, local musicians will lead the well-wishers and Beatles fans as they celebrate the life of one of Liverpool’s best-loved sons.
Jerry Goldman from The Beatles Story, a museum dedicated to the band, was behind the European Peace Monument coming to the city.
He said: "Although the European Peace Monument has only been on public display for just over a month it’s already taken on a global significance of its own.
"People from all over the world are coming to the city to pay their respects and consider Lennon’s message of peace through his music.
"The city is very excited that we finally have a focal point at which to remember Lennon and look forward to a vigil that will reach out to people the world over."
Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono, who was beside him when he was shot, is expected to give a concert in Tokyo on Wednesday to mark the anniversary.
A charity concert will take place on Thursday at Liverpool’s Echo Arena, called "Lennon Remembered — The 9 Faces of John", which will feature the Liverpudlian’s friends and former bandmates performing his most famous songs.
The acts will include his first band The Quarrymen.
