An appeal has been made to find a missing historic trophy, last awarded more than 65 years ago.

The organisers of the Manx Music Festival, better known as the ’Guild’, have embarked on a mission to locate the ’Liverpool Shield’, a large, ornate trophy which was last presented in 1955.

The Liverpool Shield was one of many shields, crafted out of silver and mounted on an oak background, that was donated by international Manx societies to the winners of various choir classes.

Other such shields include the Transvaal Shield, donated by the South African Manx Society, the Vancouver Shield, given by the Canadian Manx Society and, closer to home, the Manchester Shield.

The Liverpool Shield, which The oak featured a silver Viking ship on Manx waters, the Tower of Refuge, dolphins and an ancient harp, surmounted by a Liver Bird, was presented to the best Choral society of the festival.

During the early years of the festival, the category was quite a popular and well-contested class.

However, by the time the time of the 1950s, that particular contest had become less well-attended and, by 1955, only one choral society, the Hermitage Choral Society, entered.

This marks the last time the Liverpool Shield was on record as being awarded during the Guild and the trophy has been missing ever since.

Manx Music Festival chairman Anne Clarke hopes that the shield is lying forgotten in storage somewhere.

’The Guild Committee would be most grateful for any information as to The Liverpool Shield’s whereabouts,’ said Anne.

’It is most likely that it has just been overlooked and is lying in an attic somewhere, so we are hopeful that we are able to bring it back home with this public appeal.’

Anyone with any information on the missing Liverpool Shield can contact Sandra Loach, the festival secretary by emailing [email protected]