Award-winning screenwriter Jimmy McGovern has been given the freedom of Liverpool.
Mr McGovern, who was born into a large Catholic working class Liverpool family in 1949, described it as one of “the most extraordinary, fascinating things that has happened to me”, as the award was announced late last year.
The lifelong Liverpool FC fan, who was recognized for his 40 years of contribution to British television, film and theater, said it would be “really humble” to be nominated alongside the 97th of July 2021 as a result of the life-changing injuries he suffered .
Mr McGovern, whose screen credits include Brookside, Cracker, Hillsborough, The Lakes, Moving On, The Street, Anthony and the recent BBC Prison drama, Time, received his award at a ceremony at Liverpool Town Hall.
A video message from Sir Kenny Dalglish, who was Liverpool manager at the time of the Hillsborough tragedy, told him “you are an absolute credit to your profession, your family and a credit to the Hillsborough families in particular”.
Sir Kenny said: “It (Liverpool) is a city that is close to your heart and a city that you have served brilliantly over the years. Not just in your day-to-day job, but especially for the people who live in Participation were Hillsborough.
“The way you looked after them, the time and effort you put into them, the faith you gave them was absolutely fantastic.”
Mr McGovern’s extensive career as a writer, co-writer and producer includes the launch of the Channel 4 soap Brookside in 1982, the 1994 film Priest, and the 2007 game about slavery, King Cotton, which was staged for Liverpool. . Years as European Capital of Culture.
He was quoted as putting the pursuit of truth and justice at the heart of his writing, best known 25 years ago in the 1996 documentary drama, Hillsborough.
The program examined the set-up and emerged from Britain’s worst football tragedy, in which 97 people were wrongly killed in the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.
The Bafta-winning drama is being announced as a catalyst for the battle of the families of the victims to successfully reverse the results of the original investigation.
The Freedom Ceremony was brought to an emotional climax with the release of Liverpool FC’s anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Stephen Graham, who starred in Drama Time, later described Mr McGovern as “just gorgeous” and as “such an inspiration”.
In a tribute posted online after the ceremony, he said: “I want to say what an honor it is to be one of the people who get to speak your words and the characters you create. To play one of them is a gift to me.
“All I ever wanted to do was be in a Jimmy McGovern piece and I achieved that.
“I’m very, very grateful. Keep breaking it. Stay awesome.”
Mr Devine, 55, suffered life-altering injuries in the Hillsborough crash.
The other 96 victims were awarded the award posthumously in 2016.
Mr McGovern, who was a bus conductor and an English teacher, was also recognized for generating ten million pounds for the film industry in Liverpool and the North West of England.
He is honored with four Baftas, two Edgars, two International Emmys and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Television Society. March 22, 192103
Add Comment