Liverpool City Centre recently paid tribute to a legendary busker, Peter Mickle, who was popularly known as Pete the Busker. Pete was easily recognised by his trademark top hat, bright suits, and plastic guitar outside Boots on Church Street, where he played for more than 20 years. Sadly, he passed away in August last year, but the city ensures that he is immortalised on a plaque set permanently on the pavement. The plaque bears his name, hat and a microphone, exactly where he used to play.
The initiative for the tribute came from Adam Thompson, the man behind the Humans of Liverpool Instagram account. The plaque was devised by the Council’s Street Scene Manager, Kenny Brew. It is the first-ever permanent tribute in the city to a street performer.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Mary Rasmussen and Pete’s sister Carol Casey alongside his niece Nina Casey. The family expressed their gratitude for the tribute, saying “we are extremely grateful to the city of Liverpool for honouring our Pete in this way. We were shocked when we heard the plan. Pete would have loved it.”
At the unveiling ceremony, Lord Mayor Rasmussen said, “Pete brought happiness to many people, and it is really nice and quite a unique thing to honour him in this way. He did not have the best singing voice, but everyone loved his entertainment. Pete’s family, especially his sister, informed the mayor that he was supremely confident, and he would say, ‘I’ve got everything, the voice, the looks, I’ve got everything!’ I love to think that was his mindset and his approach, and we all need a bit more of that.”
The tribute serves as a reminder of Pete’s talent and his contribution to the city of Liverpool, where he brought joy and light to the many people who heard him play on Church Street
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