To follow up on The Liverpool Echo’s “Spirit of Liverpool” campaign, in which Brian Jacques’ is a finalist–
All week, The Liverpool Echo has been having guest writers champion each of the finalists and they’ve saved the best for last (well, last day, anyway). Today, presenter of BBC Radio Merseyside’s Breakfast programme, Simon O’Brien, took up Brian’s case and wrote the following in an effort to convince people to vote Brian “Greatest Merseysider”.
Loyalty to Liverpool and sheer imagination set Brian Jacques apart
WHEN it comes to voting for the greatest Merseysider, I believe loyalty to our city or having the conviction to return home should be a vote swinger.
Fortunately, still living in Liverpool there is a globally famous celebrity, who, when he arrives in other countries, and particularly America, is mobbed.
Yet here he can walk to the newsagents and back without anyone batting an eyelid.
I refer to the author Brian Jacques, who has achieved a life balance that would make most celebrities green with envy.
The reason Brian attracts huge crowds is his series of Redwall novels aimed at the younger readers.
His fifteen book collection has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 18 languages.
But there is much more to Brian Jacques than the international best selling author. This is a multi talented individual.
You won’t find many CVs listing: merchant seaman, radio presenter, opera aficionado, best selling author and accomplished musician.
This enormous range of interests is what make Brian such good company, as I found out when I interviewed him strolling around his beloved Stanley Park, the current plight of which has him spitting feathers.
The park, incidentally, was the inspiration behind the Redwall series. The sandstone that is synonymous with our city provides the red hue of the wall and a small door that actually exists in the rose garden of the park is the secret entrance to Redwall Abbey in Brian Jacques’ fertile imagination. A fantasy world created from details of our fantastic city.
Why did he write Redwall? Was it to make millions? No, actually it was hand-written in old note pads to the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind to where he delivered milk at the time (it was a friend who persuaded him to submit his scrawlings to a publisher).
So what is the subject matter of the Redwall series? Insignificant, downtrodden mice overcoming hardships to achieve greatness.
Sounds very like the tale of the city to which Brian Jacques has remained so loyal.
If you live in the Liverpool area and would like to vote for Brian, here are the instructions, as posted on icLiverpool.
To vote by phone: Call 0901 383 4464 and key in the two digit number of the choice you wish to vote for. (Brian’s number is “08″)
To vote by text: Key in LEVOTE followed by a space and then the two digit number of the candidate you wish to vote for, sending your text to 84080. (Again, Brian’s number is “08″)
Terms and conditions: Calls will cost 25p (network charges may vary). Text messages are charged at 25p (plus the standard message rate). Usual competition rules apply.
Lines will be open from 11am today and will close at 10pm on Sunday, April 22.
The winner won’t be announced until a special gala event at the World Museum Liverpool on May 24th, where portraits of the ten finalists will be unveiled. We’ll be sure to let you know how Brian does.
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