Post by yerblues1968 on Jan 21, 2009 1:10:09 GMT -5
GERRY MARSDEN TO RECEIVE FREEDOM OF LIVERPOOL
telegraph.co.uk
By Murray Wardrop
Last Updated:
10:50PM GMT 19 Jan 2009
Gerry Marsden, the pop singer, is to be given the Freedom of the City of Liverpool.
The Gerry & the Pacemakers vocalist, who topped the charts in 1964 with Ferry Cross the Mersey, will join The Beatles as Freemen of Liverpool - an honour they were granted in the 1980s.
Speaking from his home in Merseyside, the 66-year-old said: "To be given the freedom of my home city is one of the proudest moments of my life.
"Liverpool is my city, my people. All my family and friends are in Liverpool and everyone is absolutely delighted.
"It's something you never expect to happen in a million years but now it has I'm over the moon.
"Some of the biggest names in music have been given this honour, the likes of Paul McCartney and Ken Dodd. To even be mentioned in the same breath of legends like that is the stuff dreams are made off.
"It's hard to put into words how good I feel, all I can say is I'm glad to be recognized by the best city in the world."
Other names to be entered in the city's honours list include Wally Brown, principal of Liverpool Community College, and Marina Dalglish, wife of Kop legend Kenny Dalglish, in recognition of her charity fund-raising work.
A number of organisations will also receive a similar accolade including the Hillsborough Families Support Group, Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services, and the Tate Liverpool art gallery.
The nominations will be considered by the City Council at its next meeting on January 28.
Marsden is best known as the frontman of 60s rock 'n' roll band Gerry & the Pacemakers.
However, the Liverpool FC supporter is revered among fellow fans for his song You'll Never Walk Alone, which was adopted by the club as its anthem.
www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/4293032/Gerry-Marsden-to-receive-Freedom-of-Liverpool.html