A collection of 21 archive photographs offers a glimpse into everyday life in Liverpool during October 1996. The images, drawn from the Mirrorpix archive, capture shopping trips, local businesses, events and landmarks from three decades ago.
Scenes from Speke and the city centre
Several photographs focus on the Speke shopping parade, including Barbara McAndrews from Southern Newsagents, pictured on 23rd October 1996. Other Speke images show Abisgolds Hardware, Fruit Line and the central shopping parade itself, all photographed on the same date.
Elsewhere, Frank Smith appears at his cafe, Frank's Cafe, on Dock Road on 5th October 1996. Michael Lee from Ainsworths Quality Butchers in Speke is also featured, along with a view of Liverpool Marina taken on 7th October.
Sport, music and community milestones
Sporting memories include Liverpool players holding bouquets of flowers before their UEFA European Cup Winners Cup match against FC Sion on 17th October 1996. Ford workers at Halewood celebrated making 250 million cars on 8th October, the same day PC Nigel Morgan was pictured patrolling the streets on a bike and the Police HQ Control Room was photographed.
Jane Casey from Cream in Liverpool stands in front of the clubbing brand's logo in an image dated 30th October 1996. The Spirit of Dance features traditional Irish music and dance with main stars Peter King and Gemma Doyle.
Local characters and celebrations
Carol Ross, manageress of the Philharmonic Pub, is among the portraits, alongside a shot of the pub itself. At the Liverpool Empire Theatre, budding ballerina Tara Wells of Old Swan celebrated her 10th birthday on 9th October before joining the English National Ballet on stage for their production of Coppelia.
Mike Curtin, owner of Mike's fish and chip shop in Churchill Avenue, Southport, is pictured holding a trophy after his establishment was voted Britain's best chippy in a competition of over 300 participants organised by mushy peas manufacturers Batchelors. The photograph was taken on 24th October 1996.
