Tribute paid to local heroes

Susan Lochrie • Published 16 Dec 2010 14:00

LOCAL heroes who have touched the lives' of many have been immortalised in Greenock's very own walk of fame.

To celebrate the revamp of the West Stewart Street underpass, regeneration body Riverside Inverclyde decided to launch a campaign to find 32 stars, both from past and present.

They invited the community to nominate those they believe deserving of such an honour - and their names now line the walls and the ground of the busy thoroughfare.

After a huge public response people, like elderly champion Nell McFadden, anti-knife campaigner John Muir and Mount Everest heroine Carrie Gibson now sit alongside the likes of inventor James Watt.

Given the honour of cutting the ribbon was Carrie Gibson, who said: "It is wonderful to come here and see all these people who are more deserving than me. It is very touching."

Inverkip Scout leader Carrie is only the fifth Scottish women to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain. At the moment she is recovering from a nasty fall in the Himalayas earlier this year.

Joining her on the day was John Muir, who lost his son, Damian, to unprovoked blade attack in 2007. Since then John has campaigned up and down the country and tried to change the law on knife-carrying.

John said: "It is nice to be here but I would much rather be campaigning than getting a pat on the back."

The underpass was revamped as part of a £2million town centre regeneration project.

Guide leader Libby Ballantyne, who now has her place in history, was delighted to be among those honoured. She said: "I have arthritis and I have turned up in wheelchairs and in crutches to be there for my Guides. I am so emotional."

Also included on the wall at West Stewart Street is Louise Quigley.

The Inverkip woman was nominated by her own mum Mary Simpson as a way of saying 'thank you'.

Mary said: "I am epileptic and Louise looks after me. She is amazing."

Mum-of-three Louise also has a son Shay who suffers from a congenital heart defect and had open heart surgery as a toddler. Louise added: "I am very honoured."

Others nominated include Kirsty Taylor who, through her work as a pyschic medium has raised £12,000 in the last few years for numerous charities.

Inverclyde Council regeneration convenor, councillor Jim Clocherty, paid tribute to all those who find themselves in the walk of fame.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 16 Dec 10

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