Deeply regrettably 2016 was the cruellest on record for loosing current and past Board and general members. In the space of a few weeks we lost Reverend Dr John Fielding past Chair and Board Member for many years, Stan Ambrose one of our Community members whose delightful harp playing added such a beautiful musical backdrop to our AGMs and Heritage Open Days. The most recently and perhaps the most telling on the charity, Edward Murphy OBE who served on our Board until a short time before his death and whose invaluable counsel will be sadly missed. We are eternally grateful to these three great servants of DMAC Ltd who contributed to our Charity in their own way.
THE LATE AND BELOVED EDWARD MURPHY OBE AND FORMER TRUSTEE
Edward was a trustee with our charity for 10 years, having to take sabbatical in 2012 for health reasons however this only meant we took meetings to him, wherever he was!. Edward returned to us at the beginning of 2016 and attending right up until his hospital admission in August. Just as before, we ventured up to his bedside to talk business, politics and the whole sector!! He left nothing out! We recall with laughter what he would pull as ID having never held a passport, yes it was the picture above when received his OBE from the Queen.
Edward was the founder of our Heroes and Sheroes 2017 project and although he wasn't here to see it come to fruition he would never have known that he would be our very first Hero of L8. This seen us naming our multi use room in his honour - The Murphy Suite - on the 3rd Feb 2017 when launching the Heroes and Sheroes of L8 2017 project.
Below is Bill Harpe’s (The Black-E) tribute to Edward Murphy which was published in The Guardian newspaper
My friend and colleague Edward Murphy, who has died aged 64 of cancer of the oesophagus, dedicated his life to the voluntary sector. From 1986 to 2001 he was the chief executive of Liverpool Council of Social Service (LCSS), the umbrella body for voluntary organisations in the city, after which, with Mandy Maloney, he founded and directed the Merseyside Network for Change, a community empowerment charity with a commitment “to stand by the poor”.
His administration and activism were steeped in practical wisdom. Within the voluntary sector, with trustees of charities often appointed for their expertise, Edward observed that “experts should be kept on tap and not on top”. Of charity trustees themselves, he observed that they should be “the keepers of the vision”.
Edward valued both informality and formality. He could be found each evening in his chosen watering hole for good advice, good company and good beer. He could also be found chairing the EU’s £500m Pathways to Integration programme on Merseyside, drafting the constitution for a small learning disabled drama group, or giving his personal support to a refugee in distress.
Edward was born in Speke, Liverpool, the first child of Daniel Murphy, a dock and woodyard worker, and his wife, Marion (nee Savage). After reading history at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, Edward returned to Liverpool. His first full-time post was at LCSS.
He then worked as a lecturer in adult education at University of Liverpool and for the Workers’ Educational Association. In 1978 he became combined arts officer, managing grants programmes for arts organisations, with Merseyside Arts Association. He also spent three years undertaking project management for new-build housing developments and training for housing co-operatives.
From the 1970s onwards, he was closely involved with The Black-E in Liverpool, Britain’s first community arts project, and was its chair for more than a decade.
At the time of his death he was still working for Merseyside Network for Change.
Edward possessed neither a passport nor a driving licence. Once, when struggling to confirm his identity for a medical assessment for his increasing disability, he shuffled through his papers and brought out a picture of himself with the Queen, receiving his OBE for services to regeneration, in 2000. This was deemed proof of identity.
THE LATE AND BELOVED REVEREND DR JOHN FIELDING FORMER TRUSTEE AND CHAIR
We first we met Revd. John when he became Minister of Religion at Toxteth with Sefton Park Methodist Church, Ullet Rd L8. John attended our Annual Heritage Open days, was in support of the Save The Florrie Campaign and signed up to being a trustee with us in 2004 and retired in 2012 following his retirement in 2011 from Toxteth Methodist Church. John held the officership of Chair with us for 5 years during his Trusteeship; served as Chaplin at the Royal Liverpool Hospital; was involved in the Liverpool Inner City Training and Research Project (PAULDEN PROJECT 2003-2009). In his last year shortly before his passing, he achieved his Doctor status which he was rightfully proud of attaining.
John was a very witty and humorous character with a smile not far from his lips. He took all the stick he got about his Brummy accent, he was a mean wielder of the Gavel which he would happily brandish at board meetings and events to our amusement. A truly compassionate and human person and we are so privileged to have known and worked along side him for the benefit of this community.
We knew Johns wife Marg very well who took amazing care of John throughout their marriage. Through her love and support, which we witnessed, this gave great comfort to John just as he had shown to thousands of people, in their times of need and grief.
THE LATE AND BELOVED STAN AMBROSE - FORMER MEMBER
Stan was a retired social worker, presenter of 'Folkscene' on Radio Merseyside for 49 years, and renowned harper. Much loved and missed by the Liverpool music community. A member of our charity for 10 years and we will remember fondly his playing his wonderful music on his harp at our Heritage Open Day, AGMs and special events. Stan we thank you. Herewith a poem by one of trustees Tom Calderbank published in The Nerve Magazine.
From The Ambrose to The Planet by Tom Calderbank
From The Ambrose to The Planet
We place our bets and take our chance
It’s not about who wins
But how we step in time and dance.
Across lapping waves
And cries of birds
The old sea shanties
Can still be heard.
The Sea called you;
Your blood surged with the tide.
The Mersey called you:
And Stanley, with all your heart you replied:
‘Yes’.
The Singing City’s adopted son,
Time and tide calling you on.
Through instruments you made your bonding
With the folks on the scene,
As you moved through the fair,
Like you’d been here before, in a dream
And like a tapestry weaving music
You became Simply –
Stan The Man.
Gentle strength rippled through the world,
Wherever you strummed your Pilgrim’s harp,
And as in war you led the line
Forged in a spiritual fire of radical love.
As by heart, a singular Stanarchist you became
You were. You remain…
The spirit of the song reborn, again and again
You were dedicated to preserving the old ways
Through the radio and the sea waves,
Ushering in the new days,
Editing your ego,
Unfettered by convention
And placing the rightful singers of the song.
Centre stage, where they belong.
Your ear blessed many a lost friend
Supported all us misfits and loose ends,
The lonely and the maddened.
The depth of your compassion,
Met only by the heights your music reached
And the graceful aplomb with which you played
A healer with a harp, bending time
So we could all stand at the top of Bold Street, together,
And gaze at the maw of Eternity.
…
Like when you played…
When you played at my wedding
– 4 days after the planes -, and you
Made everything right again
Made us believe in our higher selves
Made us feel happy, mythic and true
Made time stand still again.
So I could look at my bride anew.
For that alone, I thank you.
…
Like when you played
In St Luke’s
For a gig against war,
When the wind played your harp
Made our spirits soar.
….
Like when you played
At The Kaz
To a Glorious Faust
And with gentle force
You brought down the house.
…
Like when you played
At the Service
Of Remembrance and Hope
For all the lost babies at the Women’s….
…
Like that warm and wise ‘hello’
When we’d meet in Mellomello,
Like when, like when, like when.
You played so much. You did it again.
…
And we found in your Great Spirit, always
A cosmic solace…
Now the stars spell out your name:
Stan.
Not a legend. Just one hell of a man.
A 1-man Republic: STANISTAN!
You had the courage to be yourself in a world
Trying to make you like everybody else.
“Be a verb, not a noun,”
Now how your life seems like a challenge or dare:
For anyone who cares to listen,
For everyone who really cares.
Race you from The Planet to The Ambrose
We place our bets and take our chance
It’s not about who wins
But how we step in time and dance.
In Stan's words: "Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die."