Famous Maryport citizens to be remembered

This follows an appeal for more blue plaques – which highlight notable people from Maryport – to be showcased around the town.

Maryport Town Council will look at several options – blue plaques on the doors of the chosen people, a map indicating the appropriate buildings, or a town trail.

This would be likely to feature some of the town’s most notable sea captains including Captain Willie Nelson and Robert and Wilson, considered to be the founders of Japan’s modern merchant navy. Also acknowledged would be Robert’s young Japanese wife Fukuda Sato, who died in Maryport in her 30s.

Also acknowledged would be artist William Mitchell and Thomas English, the young architect who became mayor of Adelaide in Australia.

Another name on the list is that of someone that one councillor felt had been forgotten.

Cllr Carni McCarron-Holmes said Dr JW Crerar must be recognised.

Born in 1891, Dr Crerar was an antiquarian who kept plans for Maryport.

He corresponded with Alexander Morrison, town clerk of Adelaide regarding the introduction of municipal elections by secret ballot.

He was honoured by peers at the University of Edinburgh for his work as a house surgeon.

There is a street on Hillside, Crerar Close, named after him.

But most importantly, Mrs McCarron-Holmes said he lived and operated his surgery from 11 High Street long before the NHS came into being.

“Most families went to him and he delivered babies," she said.

“The Down Street community loved him. He fought for slum clearance as an aid to good health."

Mrs McCarron-Holmes said she believed there was a “Crerar” plaque at the Maryport hospital but that was for Miss Crerar, his sister.

He was, however, instrumental in getting the hospital built.

Maryport council has erected three blue plaques in as many years.

They were in remembrance of Maryport’s young VC, “Ned” Smith and the first black policeman in the country, John Kent.

The most recent blue plaque was for artist and climber Bill Peascod.