{"id":42834,"date":"2025-04-23T03:52:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T03:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/42834\/"},"modified":"2025-04-23T03:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T03:52:11","slug":"liverpool-hero-who-saved-locals-from-drowning-honoured-with-mural","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/42834\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool hero who saved locals from drowning honoured with mural"},"content":{"rendered":"

A hero who saved many locals from drowning in the Mersey and the docks, and taught countless others to swim, has been\u00a0honoured with a mural in Liverpool.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Painted by John Culshaw \u2013 famous for his range of murals across\u00a0Liverpool \u2013 the mural of James Clarke in Athol Village\u00a0is the third in a series of works commissioned by local charity Mandela8. The charity are delighted to now\u00a0partner\u00a0with Riverside Foundation to showcase and celebrate more community role models.<\/p>\n

Mandela8 are aiming to \u201cchange\u00a0the face of the community we live in by portraying positive models and their achievements\u201d and have\u00a0previously commissioned murals in Liverpool of LFC\u2019s first Black player, Howard Gayle;\u00a0photographer and urban griot\u00a0Leroy Cooper;\u00a0and Nelson Mandela himself.<\/p>\n

James Clarke James was born in British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1886. At 14, he stowed away on a cargo\u00a0ship bound for Liverpool and was adopted by an Irish family living in the Scotland Road area. James worked on the docks and soon joined Wavertree Swimming Club,\u00a0teaching children to swim after rescuing many of them from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.<\/p>\n

The first Black man to have a street named after him, James\u2019\u00a0silver chain with 8 medals awarded to him for swimming and \u2018saving life from drowning\u2019 is on display\u00a0at the Museum of Liverpool, alongside a framed certificate from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, awarded to James\u00a0for diving into the West Waterloo Dock and rescuing a man from drowning.<\/p>\n

Sonia Bassey MBE, Chair of Mandela8<\/strong>\u00a0said:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re delighted to continue to work with Riverside Group to commission the next in our series of murals across Liverpool. James Clarke was a true local hero, saving many people from drowning in the Mersey and teaching so many others to swim so they could save themselves. As someone who is synonymous with courage and really embracing unity in his support of his local community, we felt James was the perfect subject for this mural in Athol Village. We are humbled to have the blessing of James\u2019 family ahead of the work on the piece beginning.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re thrilled to be working with John Culshaw again on this mural and have no doubt it will have the same impact as his previous works for Mandela8, including those of Leroy Cooper, Howard Gayle and Nelson Mandela himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Project Manager and Mandela8 Ambassador, Stephen Nze<\/strong> said:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been great working with the talented John Culshaw over\u00a0the last year on bringing this artwork to life for the legendary James Clarke and his family.\u00a0We as Mandela8 are privileged and honoured\u00a0to be allowed to create this mural with John and Riverside.\u201d<\/p>\n

The family of James Clarke gave the following statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe, the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren of\u00a0James\u00a0Clarke, are truly honoured and deeply grateful to see a mural created in his memory. His story is one of strength and perseverance. Despite facing racism and physical abuse, he never let those struggles define him. Instead, he rose above them to become a pillar of his community, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire not just our family but so many others in Liverpool and beyond.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His journey is a powerful reminder that no matter the obstacles, determination and kindness can make a real difference. In today\u2019s world, where immigration is often spoken about negatively, his life shows the true impact of those who come here, work hard, and dedicate themselves to helping others. His resilience and unwavering spirit remind us all that it\u2019s not where you start but how you choose to move forward that truly matters.<\/p>\n

James\u00a0Clarke, the first Black man in Liverpool to have a street named after him for saving countless lives at the docks and canal, left an incredible legacy that continues to inspire us all. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to John Culshaw for his beautiful artistic tribute, who played a key role in bringing this vision to life, and to the Mandela 8 charity for securing the funding from Riverside Housing. Their support has made this mural possible, ensuring that our grandfather\u2019s legacy is celebrated for generations to come.<\/p>\n

James\u00a0often told his children \u2018Let colour be your last excuse, not your first,\u2019 a powerful message that has been passed down through generations. Reminding us that the true value lies in our actions and the choices we make. This mural embodies that message, a powerful reminder of his selflessness and unwavering commitment to making a difference in his community.<\/p>\n

Find more information on the Mandela 8 website<\/a>.
\nFind all the latest Liverpool news here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North \u2013 visit\u00a0thenorthernguide.com<\/a>\u00a0and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram\u00a0HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n