Bill Kenwright’s perfect choice of song encapsulated Merseyside’s solidarity in the fight for justice after the Hillsborough disaster.
Mr Kenwright's death at the age of 78 was confirmed on Tuesday (October 24). A lifelong Blue, the Wavertree-born theatre producer was chairman of the club’s board from 2004 to his death.
He had been a member of the board since 1989 and his ‘True Blue’ consortium bought a majority share of 68% of the club for £20 million in 1999. He then became the club’s largest stakeholder in 2004.
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Mr Kenwright was instrumental in Everton’s ongoing response to the Hillsborough disaster as the Toffees showed support for their neighbours across Stanley Park. He delivered a powerful speech at the memorial service at Anfield in April 2013, in which he praised the strength of the families of those who died.
The previous year, his choice of song for an Everton tribute became a lasting commemoration of those who lost their lives at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. Following the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report in September 2012, Everton paid tribute to the victims of the disaster before a home game against Newcastle.
Two children holding hands in the centre circle became another powerful symbol of Merseyside’s fight for justice. In her blue Everton shirt, Beth Garner-Watt, 11, wore number nine while seven-year-old Mikey Clare was Liverpool’s number six.
The names of the 96 people who had at that time died at Hillsborough were displayed on the big screen while The Hollies’ song ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ played over the speaker.
The song - a perfect illustration of the solidarity shown across the city - was chosen by Mr Kenwright.
In December 2012, the chairman said of the song: “Whatever anyone says, there has always been a closeness between Everton and Liverpool.
“Sure, there is a rivalry - we all know they want us to lose and we want them to lose - but there has always been that affinity.
“I was brought up on walking to Anfield or walking to Goodison with my mates in our different coloured scarves, and certainly the bond between Evertonians and Liverpudlians over the Hillsborough debacle, not only the disaster at the time but what happened since, was something everyone on Merseyside railed against.
“We were all euphoric at that moment when we heard that, at last, those families - people like Margaret (Aspinall) and Trevor (Hicks), who had fought and fought and fought - had an opportunity to say, ‘You were wrong, we were right and our families deserve more respect.’
“We talked about Everton playing You’ll Never Walk Alone at Goodison Park for the 96, which I didn’t believe would be inappropriate in any way, shape or form.
“I remember we battled with that one, and then all of a sudden I thought, ‘Hang on a minute - what about He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’.
“The song just seemed to sum up everything about the relationship between Everton and Liverpool.”
The song was later re-recorded by a group of musicians and celebrities under the name ‘The Justice Collective’, to raise money for charities associated with the families of the victims. It was released in December 2012 and became that year’s Christmas number one.
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