#liverpool
Parc des Princes - Paris, France
27 May 1981
Final
Alan Kennedy 81’
June is a wonderful month in this part of the world–the final remnants of spring meld into the warmth of summer. Flowers are blooming and baby birds are making their final flights from their nests. And on June 15, 1939, Redwall author Brian Jacques was born.
Brian passed away on a cold and rainy day in February of 2011–fitting weather for a city that had lost an icon. In February, I always remember his passing and feel such a somber reverence for the man who gave us a world of courage and peace. If he was still with us, he’d be turning 83 this year.
In June, his memory is brighter: this is the time to remember his life. Not just his creation of Redwall, but everything about the adventure driven, family focused, and multi-talented man who made such an impact on his hometown of Liverpool–and the world. His life could arguably have been more action packed than his own stories.
For many years, @dibbunsagainstbedtime has hosted fundraisers in the month of June in Brian’s memory. She isn’t able to run the fundraiser this year, so I’ve taken over. I appreciate everything she’s done in his memory in the past, and I hope to do well in continuing her tradition. If Redwall taught us anything, it is how to be good and do good to the world around us, and I hope this will aid in that cause.
I know we are all drawn to different causes, and pockets are tight coming out of a pandemic and facing a chaotic job market, inflation, and potentially worse. As such, I’m not fundraising in the traditional sense. I want to raise awareness for the causes below, all located in Liverpool.
If you decide to donate after seeing this post, I ask that you name Brian Jacques somewhere in your dedication. If you can’t or don’t want to donate but would like to spread the word, please share!
If you want me to share some results towards the end of this month, you can let me know if you want to be credited, who you supported, and how much you donated. Any part of that info can be anonymous if you’d like as well.
Historically,@dibbunsagainstbedtime fundraised for the Royal School for the Blind in Liverpool. This school has a special place in Brian’s history, and specifically in the history of Redwall. Brian used to read stories to the children when making his routine stops as a truck driver, and he found he didn’t like the books he was reading. As a result, he wrote Redwall for the children there. It was discovered, published, and the rest is history.
The Royal School for the Blind is currently only taking donations by bank transfer and check. I know that process would take more time than a standard website donation, but this is one of the best places for the Redwall fandom to donate in Brian’s memory if you’re comfortable with the options.
Alan Durband, who was once Brian’s teacher and later discovered Redwall and was pivotal in its publication, co-founded Merseyside’s Everyman Theatre in 1964. Brian later joined this theatre as a resident playwright. Everyman Theatre merged with another company, Playhouse, in 2000–hence the name change! Supporting this cause assists in ongoing representation of the arts that were an important part of Brian’s life.
Food banks offer resources to individuals with food insecurities. Coming from a fandom with such an emphasis on food–and knowing Brian himself grew up with food insecurities–this is an excellent charity to contribute to.
This charity provides mental health support to young people through music, technology, training, and volunteering. These services are for anyone aged 15-30.
The leading charity in Liverpool for the homeless and those struggling to maintain housing. We can’t open our gates to everyone, but we can help provide services to those who can.
Remember:
If you are unable to donate to any of these causes for any reason, I want you to know that you are valid. Being good and doing good isn’t rooted in money: it’s rooted in action, and changing the world for good doesn’t have to be large, well-organized movements. Just being a warm smile, friendly shoulder, or listening ear brings some of that Redwall peace to the world and is an honor to Brian’s life.
how long until i get blocked lol
ABOVE: link to the 1963 documentary The Mersey Sound (Filmed: August, 1963 / Broadcast: October 9, 1963)
The film features various local musicians discussing the nature of the music and the reasons for its success, as well as interviews with the Beatles, Bill Harry and Brian Epstein.
‘This is a story about a special kind of noise - a noise worth a small fortune. A noise that has made a provincial city - for a time at least - the metropolis of pop music. This is the story of The Mersey Sound.’
Callejón Liverpool en el Centro Histórico de Mazatlán. Las figuras que honran a Los Beatles, una de las más conocidas bandas musicales, fueron creadas por el escultor Oscar Ponzanelli. ❤️
Sinaloa … Que lindo eres!
Fotografía: Miguel Angel Victoria / Sinaloa 360
