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The late, great, Gerry Marsden

You’ll Never Walk Alone is a song synonymous with the people of Liverpool since Gerry and the Pacemakers took it to number one in 1963. Originally a song from the musical Carousel, You’ll Never Walk Alone has been covered by many great singers, such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Pink Floyd, to name but a few. It has been adopted as Liverpool FC’s anthem and used as a fundraiser for Grenfell Towers by Marcus Mumford.
As a lifelong fan, I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview Gerry Marsden and ask him about how he is coping with the lockdown.

People all over the world are struggling with lockdown. How has it been for you?
Pauline and the family are keeping well, thank you. It is tough, very tough, keeping your distance from the people you love.

Have you read any particular books or watched anything specific on TV?
I love reading. I am actually reading a fantastic book called The History of Great Britain. It is incredible what you discover once you start!
I love the old stuff on TV, especially Dad’s Army. It is incredible that it still makes me laugh today. The old ones are the best!

Does music still play a big part in your everyday life in retirement?
No, I don’t really listen to music anymore. If you’re not involved, you get out of the habit. If I ever do, it would be Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and Ray Charles, I am an old rock and roller at heart.

Lots of people have discovered or rediscovered their creativity for art or cookery during lockdown. Has this been the case for you?
My hands are too dry with washing them every five minutes! No, seriously, Pauline, my wife, is a great cook and will often ask me to peel the potatoes. Of course, they are always too thick! I don’t cook at all; reading is my thing.

How have you kept in touch with family?
It is really tough. I am on the phone with my family all day, every day, and we Facetime. It is great to be able to see them, even if it is on video. I have two daughters, a grandson, Tom, who is in Liverpool studying Mechanical Engineering, and a new grandchild on the way. It is so, so hard at the moment, isn’t it? I can’t wait to give them all a great big hug.

When we are finally given the all-clear, what will you do first?
The first thing I want to do is hug my new grandchild! I can’t wait! Then I think we will go to the villa in Spain. I miss the sunshine, and it is a great place for the family to be together.

Is there a personal message you would like to extend to the NHS and key workers?
Words could never explain how much I feel for them. All the wonderful work they do, their devotion… I admire them so much. They are fantastic.

It was great to speak with Gerry. He remained very down to earth despite his fame. He was a family man through and through, a fact reinforced by his 55 years of marriage to Pauline.

These are bizarre times. One day, our lives were normal, only to wake the following day to become the starring role in a sci-fi feature film!
It is a time to unite, and what better way to do that than with music? We are all in this together whether we like it or not. We have to continue to support our family, friends and neighbours. Look out for people who are struggling and help them wherever possible. Or simply point them in the direction of help if you cannot do it yourself.

Community spirit has left us recently, and now we have the chance to come together again, to understand what and who is really important, to take stock of the world around us, of the damage we are doing to our planet, and to put it right.
Remember, if you are struggling – You’ll Never Walk Alone.

 

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