Although I took my Liverpool working-class roots for granted few other people did so. Wherever in the world we ‘Scousers’ went we were feted as celebrities for good reason. The Beatles in the 1960s were taking the world by storm. There were many other Liverpool legends like Billy Fury and Charlie Landsborough (Birkenhead) and, of course, Gerry Marsden of the Pacemakers.

More people listened to Jack Jackson’s weekly radio programme than tuned in to the Queen’s Christmas broadcast. Most weeks Liverpool performers filled more than half of Jack Jackson’s Top Twenty entries. Billy Fury and The Beatles were constantly knocking Elvis Presley and off his throne. Then there was Lita Roza, Frankie Vaughan, Arthur Askey, The Merseybeats ~ and The Earthlings.

The latter group was our family’s in which my brother Paul was the rhythm guitarist. As they appeared often at The Cavern their group’s name is inscribed on The Wall of Fame opposite The Cavern entrance.

At the same time, Liverpool Football Club was and still is unbeatable. It seemed everyone wanted to be from Liverpool, to experience The Cavern Club cellars on Mathew Street, The Iron Door, The Harlequin, The Bird Cage and similar. We lived it, we breathed it and we sang it.

Anita Cochrane was never out of our home. My sister’s best friend, Anita was dating Paul McCartney and was to later bear Paul’s child. Whenever Noreen and Anita were off the radar one was sure to find them in Mathew Street or having fun with the artistes appearing at The Cavern at The Grapes pub opposite.

I was a friend of the Liverpool legends like Cy Tucker, Ricky Tomlinson, Karl Terry, Owen Clayton, Gary Potter, the jazz-legend, Charlie Landsborough, who loved my poetry as did Ken Dodd, Britain’s most celebrated comedian and chart-topping singer. So it was with a special and very personal regret that today I learn of the passing of Gerry Marsden (and the Pacemakers).

Gerry Marsden’s two greatest hits were Ferry across the Mersey and You’ll Never Walk Alone. The latter ballad became the unofficial anthem of Liverpool Football club. There is a story behind that song title too. You’ll Never Walk Alone was already a chart-buster when Liverpool FC was drawn to play Cologne Football Club; a team that was said to be unbeatable. Unsurprisingly, football fans like Everton FC who disliked or were jealous of the Liverpool team’s unrivalled omnipotence chortled, ‘You’ll Never Walk Cologne’ which is Liverpool slang for ‘you’ll never defeat Cologne’.

Well, Liverpool FC trounced the German team and for this reason, You’ll Never Walk Alone (Cologne) became the battle song of The Kop, the Liverpool’s teams stadium stands. R.I.P. Gerry Marsden, September 24, 1942 ~ January 3, 2021. ~ Michael Walsh

Related books: The Leaving of Liverpool, UNTOLD SAGAS OF THE SEA Volume I (The USA, The UK), UNTOLD SAGAS OF THE SEA Vol II (The USA, The UK), UNTOLD SAGAS OF THE SEA VOL. III ( The USA and The UK) and All I Ask is a Tall Ship by Liverpool writer Michael Walsh

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MICHAEL WALSH is a journalist, broadcaster and the author of RISE OF THE SUN WHEEL, EUROPE ARISE,  TROTSKY’S WHITE NEGROES, MEGACAUST,  DEATH OF A CITY, WITNESS TO HISTORY, THE BUSINESS BOOSTER , THE FIFTH COLUMN VOLUME I and II, FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK, IMMORTAL BELOVED, THE ALL LIES INVASION, INSPIRE A NATION Volume I, INSPIRE A NATION Volume II , SLAUGHTER OF A DYNASTY , REICH AND WRONG,  THE RED BRIGANDS, RANSACKING THE REICH ,    SCULPTURES OF THE THIRD RIECH: ARNO BREKER AND REICH SCULPTORS  , SCULPTURES OF THE THIRD RIECH:  JOSEF THORAK AND REICH SCULPTORS ,   PORCELAIN OF THE THIRD REICH: Supreme Ceramics and Porcelain Lost to War, The Exiled Duke Romanov Who Turned Desert Into Paradise , THE DOVETAILS , SEX FEST AT TIFFANY’S  and other book titles. These illustrated best-selling books are essential for the libraries of informed readers.

MICHAEL WALSH NOVELS

The revenge of a predator is a city-vigilante epic better than Death Wish A LEOPARD IN LIVERPOOL , 55 lavishly illustrated first-hand stories by a Liverpool sailor THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL, Latest Killer-Thriller From Michael Walsh the City Vigilante Supremo The Stigma Enigma , A powerful thought-provoking paranormal romance The Soul Meets, How to form a naughty ménage a trois THE DOVETAILS and SEX FEST AT TIFFANY’S.

Latest Michael Walsh bestsellers: Those who fall victim to the taxman, banks and moneylenders are victims of legalised mugging  DEBTOR’S REVENGE, The Business Booster shows you how to double your profits not your workload THE BUSINESS BOOSTER 

MICHAEL WALSH is a journalist, author, and broadcaster. His 70 books include best-selling RHODESIA’S DEATH EUROPE’S FUNERAL, AFRICA’S KILLING FIELDS,  THE LAST GLADIATORS, A Leopard in Liverpool, RISE OF THE SUN WHEEL, EUROPE ARISE, FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK, THE ALL LIES INVASION, INSPIRE A NATION Volume I, INSPIRE A NATION Volume II, and many other book titles. These illustrated best-selling books are essential for the libraries of informed readers.

The author’s books available for purchase by visiting his website BOOKSTORE, and POETRY  links.

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