Local Legends

No matter how busy my day might be, I always make sure to have some time for a relaxing stroll down the Village. The sense of community Huyton provides me with, keeps me motivated to offer a large part of my time to giving back as a volunteer to the local events. We have been organizing tonight’s event in “Huyton Hub” for quite some time, so I pick up my stuff and leave the house. My neighbour Sarah awaits right down the corner with a handbag filled with ornaments, and we take off together.

As we enter the Village from the main road, I can’t help but think about previous villagers who also looked in awe at Huyton Parish Church, standing tall as it has since been mentioned in the Doomsday book. It’s a tourist attraction, but also a characteristic landmark! A vibration alerts me that I am still the local legend for the 1Km segment to the Beatle Gravestone. “Why is it always you?”, Sarah exclaims with frustration. It’s only because I walk this path daily!

When turning down Derby Road, we’re met with the familiar sounds and smells of a village garden. Children playing, coffee and freshly baked bread wafting. The noise of chattering voices, clinking cups and wheels rotating.

Path users are making full use of the Pathrun, which is an all-weather 2.5Km path meandering around the perimeter of the Village. “I heard that starting this Sunday, a Junior Parkrun, marshalled by a team of volunteers, will be taking place!” Sarah informs me. “Solar panels will be positioned so that when night falls, it is well lit. It seems that it will become the place to be for all ages!"

Our journey continues down Derby Road, where murals of famous Huytonians adorn the walls, including Anthony Walker and his mother, Gee. “If only the technology that we have today could have saved Anthony from that infamous hate crime”, Sarah points out, and she’s right. The ‘drone alert’ would have responded; his libre (medical device) could have been activated to help; his attackers would have been apprehended. Technology now provides invisible security, making us feel safe and secure in our communities.

Huyton has become a multi-cultural place – most of the racial tensions elders of the village remember have become a thing of the past. The Peace walls (living walls filled with plants) are dedicated to those who have suffered inequality and racism and provide a beautiful backdrop in what was a concrete jungle, now known as Sherbourne Piazza.

We walk into the Sherbourne Piazza, which is filled with cafes, a play area and seasonal street food vendors.

Local Legend pop-up alerts us of current deals available in the shops and restaurants. We stop by Marcos’ and pick a couple of fruit squeezes. This is the best place to be on a sunny day like this; to just sit and soak up the sun. We stay still for a while and look around. The living walls camouflage the 1970s concrete walls; they seem to enjoy the sunshine just as much. We still need to get going, though. We leave with a smile.

I quickly pick up my local legend trophies from the shoe repair shop, and we make our way to the furthest end of Derby Road.

Upon passing the local restaurants, we see diners enjoying the el fresco atmosphere. I remind myself to make reservations for Friday. I have a favourite, but we should try another one this time. So many options, it feels like you could be anywhere in the world.

As we approach the greenery of the railway station garden, Stevenson’s Rocket stands out as people are drawn to it having their photograph taken. For special events, the steam train passes through, picking up passengers for an elegant trip to Liverpool City Centre.

“Welcome to Huyton! Home of the first passenger railway station in the world – be sure to visit our outdoor railway museum and see the first passenger railway carriage”. The inviting sign sits right next to our newest transport resources: Huyton’s public self-driving pods. Had we ridden a pod, we would have saved much time – though we would have missed a very much-needed sunny walk.

We finally approach our destination, the “Huyton Hub”. Final preparations are being set up to reward local legends and heroes for their commitment to the community including John Culshaw – the artist who has created so many of the stunning murals in and around the village. He will see the unveiling of his own mural created by another upcoming young artist. We are volunteering to set up the event tonight, and we are decorating “The Suite” space on the second floor.

Sam, the volunteer coordinator greets us at the front door. “What took you girls so long?”, he asks, and Sarah looks at me with a smirk. “It’s easy to lose track of time on days like this Sammy”, I respond playfully, and we take the elevator up. Our team has already kicked off the initial cleaning, and we quickly get down to work, delighted by our community’s vibe.

Throughout my many walks, I feel deep gratitude for the place I live in. The Village can provide everything from food to clothes and household goods galore. Most importantly, Huytonians have managed to build a strong sense of community and collaboration. Supporting the local economy and community is important to me.

The Village is a thriving area with a strong beating heart, and I am a part of it!