An acclaimed author and former pupil of St Mary’s College in Crosby has returned to the school to talk to sixth formers about his latest book.

James Murphy spoke to history students about Liverpool VCs which focuses on the 23 Liverpudlians who received the Victoria Cross for gallantry in various actions from the Crimean War to World War One.

James Murphy is pictured chatting to sixth formers Anna Marie Morgan and Raymond Lee in the school library during his visit.

 
The visit was arranged by teacher Tom White, a friend of Mr Murphy, to link into events at the school to mark Remembrance Day.

Liverpool VCs, which has a foreword by Lord Derby, tells how some men ‘find extra reserves of strength and courage to renew the challenge and go forward to offer their own lives so that others might live’.

It includes some remarkable stories of individual bravery, but the author
also makes the point that it was not uncommon for such heroes to end their lives as paupers back in Liverpool.

The book has been widely praised, with one critic describing it as ‘excellent’ and saying that James Murphy writes with ‘verve and sympathy, as well as the authority you would expect from an academic’.

Mr Murphy, who was brought up in Bootle and now lives in Barrow-in-Furness, was one of 15 children born to his late father Michael, whose family was from Ireland, and his 91-year-old mother Laura who is of Spanish descent.

His previous books include a trilogy of anti-war spy thrillers and a re-examination of Liverpool’s famous - and unsolved - 1930s Julia Wallace murder case.  He is currently working on a history of the Mersey Tunnel.

St Mary’s College spokesman, Dr Trevor Lane, said: “We were very pleased to welcome James Murphy back to the school for what was a very timely visit. The students really enjoyed his talk on a fascinating subject.”

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