New Wall of Fame

[Kev]

THE names of 100 great Merseysiders will be inscribed in a new wall of fame outside the ECHO Arena.

Spirit of Merseyside is designed as a tribute to some of the most famous and most influential people who have made great contributions to the city.

It will be based on the list of greatest Merseysiders printed in the ECHO this year.

They include those who have made their mark in sport, music, education, entertainment, business, politics, in public service and for courageous acts.

The overall winner, voted for by ECHO readers, was Everton legend Dixie Dean.

Others who will be immortalised include writer Brian Jacques, four times prime minister William Gladstone, war hero Ian Fraser VC and Liverpool Cathedral architect Giles Gilbert Scott.

Iconic city figures including the Beatles, Ken Dodd and even Red Rum are also on the list alongside headteachers, religious leaders and charity workers.

The new tribute will cost £80,000, funded through the Northwest Regional Development Agency, Capital of Culture partners and £5,000 from Liverpool Culture Company.

Culture Company head of tourism Keith Blundell has drawn up a report to be presented to next Monday’s city culture, media and sport select committee.

He said: “It will provide a fitting tribute to the achievements of Liverpool and Merseyside citizens and be a lasting legacy for Capital of Culture year.”

Names will be engraved on granite slabs and inlaid with stainless steel characters.

The design, created to be in keeping with the rest of the new Kings Dock site development, has been chosen to be as theft and vandal- proof as possible.

The 100 names will be featured on a wall in the landscaped area between the ECHO Arena and the Albert Dock.

Organisers say they expect thousands of people a year to pass by it, giving it “significant exposure and public awareness”.

Top 100: The Spirit of Merseyside

Ken Dodd

John Peel

Arthur Askey

Leonard Rossiter

Paul McGann

Peter Sissons

Rex Harrison

Maud Carpenter

Kenny Everett

Andreas Whittam Smith

Bill Shankly

Beth Tweddle

Joe Mercer

Mary Peters

Red Rum

John Conteh

Steven Gerrard

Billy Liddell

Dixie Dean

Bob Paisley

Steve Binns

Cherie Booth

Ricky Tomlinson

Fiona Castle

Kitty Wilkinson

Joan Jonker

Rex Makin

Margaret Simey

Derek Worlock/David Sheppard

Sir Bob Scott

James Mawdesley

Captain Johnny Walker

Simon Weston

Frank Field MP

Noel Chavasse VC and bar

William Roscoe

Wally ‘Stoker’ Arnold

Commander Ian Fraser

Agnes Jones

The Merchant Navy

Frank Hornby

Sir John Moores

Sir Terry Leahy

Brian Epstein

Samuel Cunard

Alastair Pilkington

William Hesketh Lever

Michael Whitty

David Levy

MacGregor Laird

Robert Tressell

Wilfred Owen

Giles Gilbert Scott

Arthur Dooley

E Chambre Hardman

Adrian Henri

Roger McGough

Willy Russell

Brian Jacques

Shirley Hughes

Sir Charles Groves

The Beatles

Sir Simon Rattle

Frankie Vaughan

Billy Fury

The Spinners

Gerry Marsden

Ian Tracey

George Melly

Rita Hunter

Father Francis O’Leary

Charles Thompson

NSPCC

Fr James Nugent

RSPCA

John Heenan

Alder Hey

William Henry Quilliam

JMU Citizenship Awards

Dr William Duncan

Harold Wilson

Bessie Braddock

King John

William Gladstone

Eric Heffer

Jack Jones

Sydney Silverman

Lord Shawcross

Eleanor Rathbone

Margaret Beavan

Prof Janet Hemingway

William Rathbone

Joseph Rotblat

Claire Dove

Jeremiah Horrocks

Sir Ronald Ross

William Pobjoy

Peter Toyne

Sir James Picton

Prof Oliver Lodge

IC Liverpool

[Cadfael]

So Cherie Booth (I assume it's Tony Blair's wife) gets a mention on this 'all time great' list yet someone like Joseph Williamson doesn't get a jot of a mention?

I think I've seen it all now

[Kev]

There's only one Hall of Fame that matters, that's right here

[phredd]

Why only 100 ???
Are more names to be added at a later time. ?

Phredd

[lindylou]

I'm glad they are doing that, but a hundred - it should be more than that. If you add up all the people of note, past and present, it would come to more like a thousand.

The trouble is we have so many that have come out of this city, where do you start !

[john]

I see that I'm not on there

[lindylou]

[phredd]

I see that I'm not on there

If you so desire I can put your name on there with my "OAP Bingo Pen"

Phredd

[Ged]

As a Blue, i'm proud that Dixie Dean won the top accolade, however, I don't think a sportsman, musician, actor or writer should top these things. Sure they bring enjoyment but they're paid for it and it's a vocation (not exactly the sort of profession carrying meaningful pressures) like say Gladstone, Chavasse, J. Walker or K. Wilkinson endured in their chosen paths that helped others.

[PhilipG]

It's rather satisfying to see that Tarbuck's name isn't on it.

[lindylou]

They are all good ones listed, and it's nice to see Steve Binns in there. He should get more recognition.

Brian Jaques too - a good writer and radio presenter.

[Cadfael]

Steve Binns is a gem in Liverpool. We took him around the Williamsons Tunnels a few years back. For someone that cannot see, he said that he felt so relaxed down there and safe at all times. You only have to speak to him on Liverpool history and you see his face light up!

[PhilipG]

Tom O'Connor should be on it.

[JustVisiting]

I was wondering what the status of the wall was, and for us who aren't in Liverpool, pictures?

[Chris48]

If my memory serves me right, Robert Tressell who wrote "The ragged Trousered phillanthropists" was an Irishman who died in Liverpool in transit to Canada. I don't think he was a Merseysider.