AceShowbiz - A monument in memory of John Lennon was unveiled in his native Liverpool, England on Saturday, October 9 to mark what would have been the Beatles legend's 70th birthday. The singer's first wife Cynthia and their son Julian Lennon were on hand to officially open the statue in front of 2,000 fans.

The monument, a globe with doves flying overhead, represents peace and will act as a shrine for Lennon devotees. Julian told revellers, "We come here with our hearts to honor dad and pray for peace and say thank you to each and every one of you and everybody involved in the celebrations today."

The global celebrations of Lennon's birthday included a performance by his widow Yoko Ono and the couple's son Sean Lennon in Reykjavik, Iceland. Meanwhile, Lennon's original band The Quarrymen headlined a tribute concert in New York and fans gathered to remember the icon in Central Park.

Lennon was shot dead outside his Big Apple apartment block in December 1980.