A sensational four-storey mural of Red Rum in Southport could finally enjoy an official unveiling – a year after it was completed.
The huge painting of the world’s greatest ever racehorse was completed on the end of a building on the corner of Scarisbrick Avenue and the Promenade in March last year.
It was completed at the time when the first national Covid-19 lockdown was imposed by the Government, so never had the grand unveiling it deserved.
It was commissioned through the 2020 Sefton Borough of Culture, organised by Sefton Council.
The mural was painted by Paul Curtis, owner of Paul Curtis artwork, whose other works include the iconic Liver Bird Wings in the Baltic Quarter in Liverpool and Breakfast At Tiffany’s Hollywood star Audrey Hepbyrn outside David H Myers opticians on London Street in Southport.
In his report to Sefton Council’s Cabinet this Thursday (4 February), Executive Director Stephen Watson wrote: “The Red Rum wall mural was completed at the very start of lockdown, so no ceremony or formal unveiling has been completed.
“It would be proposed to undertake an event of sorts to show appreciation to the artist and to publicise the mural nationally, perhaps at the time of the 2021 Grand National, subject to the situation at that time.”
Covering more than 270 square metres, the mural took artist Paul Curtis just over a week to complete.
It depicts Red Rum training on Southport beach and highlights how the horse, trained by Southport’s Ginger McCain, went on to win the Aintree Grand National three times – 1973, 1974 and 1977. A feat that has never been equalled in the history of the illustrious race.
Liverpool based Paul Curtis said: “This is by far the biggest mural I have completed and one of the most enjoyable to do.
“A lot of planning went into the design of the artwork and I was able to capture Red Rum galloping in the sea with the Southport sands in the background.
“Red Rum is part of Southport’s and the Grand National’s heritage and it was a privilege to paint
such an iconic horse as part of Sefton’s Borough of Culture celebrations in such a prime location.
“Such is the size and scale of the mural you can see it from a great distance away, and I hope it will form part of a continuing legacy of Red Rum remembering what he achieved as a race horse and his training on Southport beach.”
The Borough of Culture (BoC) title is awarded by the Liverpool City Region’s Combined Authority to one of its six local authorities (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) on a rotating, annual basis.
Sefton had the prestigious honour for 2020 and staged a series of eye-catching events such as Constellations, A Nightingale’s Song and LEGO Brick Wonders, as well as staging a series of online events for people to enjoy during lockdown including Comedy Bingo via Zoom and the Origami Red Squirrel Project.
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