Stand Up For Southport Blog by Andrew Brown
England star Alex Greenwood will tonight become the first ever woman to be awarded the Freedom of Sefton, at a special ceremony being held at Bootle Town Hall.
It’s astonishing that it has taken this long for a woman in Sefton to receive the borough’s highest honour – we think MORE female local residents deserve to be similarly honoured.
Below are eight wonderful Sefton women who we think deserve to be considered for a Freedom of Sefton Award.
There may well be others – if so please comment in our Stand Up For Southport Facebook group and let us know who you think deserves to be recognised!
Tonight will see the honour conferred on Alex Greenwood, the Bootle-born Lioness, who captured the nation’s hearts in the summer of 2022 by helping to secure the UEFA Women’s Euros Championship before narrowly losing out on the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Alex will join fellow Bootle footballer Jamie Carragher and famous horse trainer Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain as the only three individuals on Sefton’s Honorary Freedom Scroll, which officially confirms her status as Freewoman of the Borough.
Being bestowed the Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour Sefton Council can give to an individual and is only ever considered in exceptional circumstances.
Kath Wilson of Southport Lifeboat (centre) won the main Pride of Sefton Award. She is pictured with Southport Lifeboat treasurer Tony D’Arcy Masters (left) and Southport Lifeboat Coxswain and Press Officer Nick Porter
Kath Wilson has built a lasting monument to what one mother’s love can achieve.
It’s the brand new Southport Lifeboat Station that stands on Marine Drive in Southport, looking out to sea, and saving lives along the Sefton coastline 365 days a year thanks to the Southport Lifeboat volunteers.
A former patch of wasteland was transformed into this incredible facility thanks to £1.4 million with every penny raised through events, donations and through the Southport Lifeboat charity shop which Kath founded and runs on Everton Road in Birkdale.
Kath, who was awarded the Pride Of Sefton Award at The Grand in Southport earlier this year, has spent the past 35 years fundraising to start – and then run – an independent lifeboat service in Southport.
It followed the tragic death of her beloved son, Geoff Clements, in 1987 off the Sefton coast.
Along the way, Kath has raised money to help pay for the vital life saving equipment, lifeboats and training for the lifeboat crew who are all unpaid volunteers.
Southport Lifeboat has helped in the rescue of hundreds of people over the past 35 years and many families owe the safety of their loved ones to Kath.
Sir Kenny and Marina Dalglish
Marina Dalglish and her husband, Sir Kenny Dalglish, have been an integral part of life in Southport and across Merseyside ever since they moved to the town in 1977, when ‘King Kenny’ signed in a British record transfer fee from Celtic.
In the years since this humble, generous, talented, determined couple have had an incredible
impact on the lives of thousands of local people and their families – for which they will forever be
grateful.
There is no-one held in a higher regard and who have earned more respect from local people than Sir Kenny and Marina Dalglish.
They have been selfless, determined and energetic in support of people when they needed it the most, whether in pursuit of better cancer diagnosis, services and support, or in the aftermath of the Hillsborough tragedy.
The Marina Dalglish Appeal has raised over £13 million to improve the lives of people fighting cancer and continues to campaign for women to “get checked”.
It was set up by the Dalglish family in 2005 ‘to do something to help’ after Marina was successfully treated for breast cancer in 2003.
With the invaluable help of an army of volunteers, supporters, friends and family she has touched many aspects of cancer care for thousands of people in the North West.
The Marina Dalglish Appeal has one very simple aim: ‘to make a difference’ to cancer patients and their families.
Dr Karen Groves MBE, who founded Queenscourt Hospice, promotes the Queenscourt Lottery. Dr Groves is pictured at the 2022 Southport Flower Show, which she was invited to officially open. Photo by Andrew Brown Media
Karen Groves MBE founded Queenscourt Hospice 30 years ago.
She recently announced her retirement as the Medical and Education Director, although she has not really retired – the hospice recently launched the Dr Karen Groves Legacy Development Fund in her honour.
Dr Karen Groves and her sister Sarah were the inspiration and driving force behind the creation of Queenscourt Hospice three decades ago, when there were no real palliative care services in this area.
The hospice opened its doors in 1991, ahead of the official opening by Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1992, which gained worldwide attention.
Thousands of people across Southport, Sefton and West Lancashire have been impacted by the work of Queenscourt through Specialist Palliative Care at home or in care homes, in hospital, in Queenscourt Hospice in Southport or as an Outpatient.
One nominee wrote: “What an amazing person Dr Karen Groves is… her contribution to Queenscourt Hospice has been astounding.”
Crowds enjoyed the Botanic Christmas Fair at Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in Southport. Ann and David Cobham, who run the Botanic Gardens Community Association
Ann Cobham recently celebrated her 80th birthday.
She doesn’t believe in putting her feet up. You will find Ann and her husband, David, also 80, in all weathers, leading the team of volunteers maintaining one of the North West’s most beautiful parks – the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown.
Thirteen years ago the team of eight full-time Botanic Gardens gardeners lost their jobs as the result of cuts in public finances.
Ann and David immediately stepped in and recruited a team of helpers through the Botanic Gardens Community Association to raise funds for the park, plant thousands of flowers, keep it spotless for families to enjoy, and organise regular community events.
They have provided superb facilities including public toilets, one of the UK’s best ferneries, an aviary, an RAF memorial garden, and much more.
They are working with Sefton Council to secure long-term funding for the Botanic Gardens.
Debbie-Lyn Connolly-Lloyd, who runs Debbie-Lyn Apparel in Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street in Southport, has been honoured as a finalist of Ms Curvaceous UK
Debbie-Lyn Connolly Lloyd is a community champion who works tirelessly to improve accessibility in Sefton and beyond.
Since being diagnosed with a serious neurological condition in 2022, and becoming a wheelchair user, Debbie-Lyn has campaigned to ensure that all restaurants and bars in and around Sefton are completely accessible to disabled customers.
She has implemented an innovative idea, the first of its kind, for disability friendly symbols to be added against venues on TripAdvisor as well as leading a campaign to enforce The Equality Act 2010.
The campaign will see stickers displayed in windows alongside the food hygiene rating for passing customers, compiling an extensive list of venues in Sefton which are fully accessible to be issued to tourism information and media and contacting venues directly to ask for amendments to be made to become fully inclusive.
Southport Radio 1 DJ and cancer awareness champion Adele Roberts has set a new Guinness World Record at the 2023 London Marathon
Adele Roberts, a Radio 1 DJ, ran the London Marathon this April along with her stoma, who she has named ‘Audrey’.
Adele, who bravely shared her battle against cancer last year, was raising money for the Attitude Magazine Foundation, which supports LGBTQ+ causes ranging from children’s hospices to those living with HIV.
The 26.2 mile race was a tough challenge for Adele, who underwent surgery for bowel cancer just a year and a half ago.
The radio presenter and DJ, who grew up in Southport, was diagnosed with cancer at the start of October 2021 and soon underwent an operation to remove a tumour, but was determined to remain positive.
She used her huge following to share her journey fighting cancer, saying: “I’m hoping it’ll reach anyone who might benefit from seeing it or reading it.”
She was representing Nissan UK which is committed to championing diversity and inclusivity as part of its Possibilities Project.
Debbie Rogers, third left
Debbie Rogers founded Sean’s Place in Bootle in 2020 following the loss of her brother Sean to suicide the year before.
Debbie desperately tried to find help for him but there was nothing available in the community at that time and sadly he felt he had no option but to end his life.
In 2020 despite battling inquests and dealing with her grief she began to build a sanctuary for men in the community where they could find a sense of belonging and have hope again for the future.
In just three years she has provided support to over 2,500 men with an average of 160 men attending every single week.
Debbie has built partnerships with other organisations and won the backing of the local NHS Trust which has commissioned her service for thre years to support men back into the community. Debbie doesn’t take no for an answer and believes in every single person she supports.
Sean’s Place has contributed nationally to mental health research to prevent people turning to suicide around the country.
Ken and Brenda Porter
Brenda Porter is a Southport community champion who is quite simply ‘Mrs Ainsdale’.
She deservedly won the Merseyside Woman of the year Lifetime Achievement award four yars ago.
Brenda, in her 80s, has been a pillar of the Southport community for many years.
Formerly a councillor for Ainsdale Ward in Southport from 2000 to 2012, she stood as a Southport Parliamentary candidate in 2010 and retired from office in 2012.
Her help and involvement with the local community didn’t stop there as she’s chairman for several local organisations including Ainsdale In Bloom, Friends of Revitalise Sandpipers, Ainsdale Community Wildlife Trust and chairman of governors at Merefield Special School.
She was a trustee of Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) for which she had been a volunteer and councillor.
Brenda has also worked closely with Green Sefton, including Natural Alternatives, which supports the In Bloom Groups.
She’s truly a credit to Southport and its community spirit.
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