A new mural of North Birkenhead legend, Charlie Landsborough, has been officially unveiled at a special ceremony in the town.

The leading country and folk musician topped a vote by residents who were asked to choose a local hero that they wanted to see immortalised on the side of North Birkenhead Train Station. Landsborough received 46% of the vote and beat the likes of Dixie Dean and the town’s first female mayor, Lady Mary Ann Mercer.

The mural, created by renowned Liverpool artist Paul Curtis, measures 2.5m tall and 5m wide, and aims to capture the heart and spirit of the country star, who grew up in North Birkenhead and taught at local primary school, Portland Road.

The competition, which was launched by Cradle to Career – a long-term initiative that aims to transform the lives of children and young people in North Birkenhead, is a celebration of the passion, talent, resilience and creativity that has come out of the North End.

Cradle to Career’s primary goal is to improve the quality of life for all, creating new opportunities for local children and young people, while also improving communication between the community and the organisations that assist them. The project is supported by Wirral Council and by charitable donations from the Steve Morgan Foundation and SHINE, and managed by Right to Succeed.

Charlie Landsborough says: “It’s a huge honour to receive this visible accolade in the area, mainly because I’m so proud to call myself an old Northender. So much of the person I’ve become stems from both my early life, but also the many influences of family and neighbours in what was a real community.

“We may not have had much growing up, but we had kindness, love, humour, and we always looked out for each other. I was the youngest of 11 children and grew up at 173 Beaufort Road in a house full of music, laughter and animals – chickens, dogs and cats, birds, a duck, and even a monkey at one time.

“I’m delighted to have been recognised by my fellow Northenders.”

Janice Bluett-Duncan, programme manager at Cradle to Career, adds: “Cradle to Career puts local people at the heart of decision making within their community and aims to ensure all children and young people living in the North End can achieve their potential.

“We launched the mural competition in 2021 as a celebration of the passion, talent and creativity that has come from the North End over the years, and hope it inspires the next generation of talent from this amazing place.”

Paul Curtis is best known for his awe-inspiring Liverpool Wings mural in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle.

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