St Helens: The Great & The Good, by Brian Leyland, is a celebration of the heritage of the town of St Helens and in particular the people that hailed from it.
It profiles 100 people who were either born, raised or educated in the town and who have gone on to make their mark on a national or international stage. It includes both historical and contemporary figures and concludes that the town has long punched above its weight.
It has been written in a light-hearted manner but with a serious undertone, posing the question whether or not this prolific production line will survive into the future.
It is a “must read” for anyone with an interest in the town’s history and will no doubt inspire the next generation.
Brian grew up in St Helens and attended St Austin’s and St Teresa’s Primary Schools followed by West Park Grammar School. He graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Modern History with Economics and went on to become a partner at Price Waterhouse (now PwC) working in Liverpool, Düsseldorf, Manchester and London before his retirement in 2010.
He is now a director of Hometown Plus Limited, a business which helps restore community and commercial prosperity mainly to towns which have been left behind in the post-industrial era.
St Helens: The Great & The Good is his first publication.
Priced at £14.99 the book is available in the Saints Superstore at the Totally Wicked Stadium.