A BOOK outlining the achievements of 100 people from St Helens who have gone on to make their mark on the national or international stage has been published, writes Simon Mulligan.

Author Brian Leyland, a former pupil of West Park Grammar School, has put together 100 profiles of different people - under the title St Helens: The Great & The Good.

The book is described as “a celebration of the heritage of the town of St Helens and in particular the people that hailed therefrom”.

Those featured were either born, raised or educated in the town and includes both historical and contemporary figures, concluding this town has “long punched above its weight”.

Written in a light-hearted manner with a serious undertone, it poses the question whether or not this prolific production line will survive in the future.

It is said to be a “must read” for anyone with an interest in the town’s history and also for the current youth - to be inspired to succeed as others have before them.

Brian himself grew up in St Helens and attended St Austin’s and St Teresa’s Primary Schools before he went to West Park.

He later 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.

Brian 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 Brian’s first publication and he says he does not yet know whether there will be any more in future.

Published on June 10, the book is available on Amazon in paperback at £14.99.