A PLAQUE honouring a Liverpool hero who taught children to swim after rescuing school children from the Leeds Liverpool Canal, was unveiled yesterday.

The late James Clarke, who became a champion swimmer and boxer across Liverpool was remembered at Liverpool Aquatics Centre in Wavertree.

A blue plaque was unveiled by his only surviving daughter Winnie Clarke, 75, and the great-granddaughter of the man who adopted James as a young boy.

Born in British Guyana, Clarke arrived in Liverpool in 1898 as a 14-year-old stowaway. He was found wandering the docks by Edward Crawford who brought him to his home in Vauxhall.

Edward and his wife applied for James to become a resident and had him baptised as a Catholic.

It was at the home in Eldon Street that Edward taught James how to box in the cellar, which was converted into a boxing gym.

He went on to defy the racists by marrying a white-Irish woman, Liz, and raising 13 children.

As well as becoming a top boxer he went on to win numerous swimming medals between 1908-1910.

He was a member of Wavertree and Everton swimming clubs winning the Lancashire League Cup and captained Woolton Polo team.

He became a local hero and was admired across the city after rescuing numerous children who got into difficulty in the canal at the back of his home.

He began to visit schools to encourage children to learn to swim and held swimming lessons for everyone at the local pool.

One of his favourite tricks was sitting underwater on the bottom of the pool with a bucket over his head either drinking a glass of lemonade or singing “Oh My Darling Clementine”.

His daughter, near to tears after pupils from St Hugh’s Catholic Primary performed a short play on James’ life, said he would have been delighted by the plaque.

Winnie Clarke said: “I was evacuated during the war and when I returned to Liverpool my father took ill with TB and died a year later. But I still have happy memories and I remember he used to read us Bible stories. It was amazing because he had taught himself to read and write from the Bible and everything he did was always for charity and people less fortunate.”

Among the friends, family and dignitaries was Bernadette Crawford, great-granddaughter of Edward Crawford.

She has spent the last few years researching the history of her family and James Clarke after her father recognised a picture of Clarke in a newspaper.

Ms Crawford said: “I’ve traced back to the day James arrived in Liverpool and it’s been great meeting up with his family and putting the story together.

“My father, Thomas, remembers James having to fight against racism but earned respect with his natural athletic ability and personality. He was asked by Merseyside Police to teach their officers how to box which he did.”

Liverpool Council leader Cllr Warren Bradley installed the plaque after pleas from pupils at St Hugh's Primary who campaigned for the Aquatic Centre to be named in his memory.

Cllr Bradley said: “We see swimming as an integral part of the development of this city and that is because of the work James Clarke did in rescuing lives and ensuring children were taught to swim. When I met the pupils they wanted James Clarke to be remembered, he is not just a local hero and swimmer but was a tremendous sportsman for the city.”

The children came up with the idea while carrying out a school project looking at black history and positive role models.

St Hugh’s class teacher Diane Crute, added: “The children thought Clarke was a great role model, especially as many pupils come from different countries. They see how he succeeded and became a local hero and they know they can do the same.”

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