Sporting sisters honoured by the city of Liverpool have been described as “giants” who have inspired many women across the world.
A formal recommendation has been accepted by Liverpool Council to confer the title of Citizen of Honour of the City of Liverpool to four people from across the city for their contribution to its cultural, sporting and educational advancement. Nikita Parris and her sister Natasha Jonas are two of four individuals to be recognised with the award, first introduced 15 years ago.
Nikita, 28, was part of the England Women’s EURO 2022 winning squad at Wembley and has scored goals across Europe picking up silverware in France with Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester City back at home. The Toxteth native began her career at Tiber Football Centre with Kingsley United and went onto become the FA Barclays Women’s Super League record goalscorer. Natasha, 38, became the first British female boxer to compete in an Olympic Games at London in 2012, reaching the quarter final.
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She currently holds the IBF World Super Welter, WBC World Super Welter and WBO World Super Welter belts following her last bout in November last year. Moving the motion for them to be recognised, deputy mayor, Cllr Frazer Lake, said Manchester United striker Nikita used her platform to “support other young women to achieve their aims in becoming whatever they decide they would like to become.”
Cllr Lake said: “Nikita and the Lionesses have inspired a whole generation and made the whole country proud of their achievements. They have empowered women and girls in this country and around the world.”
Paying tribute to her sister Natasha, the deputy mayor added: “She has inspired many young women in the city through her youth work, education projects, and voluntary charity work to take up sport. Natasha gives a lot of her time to causes throughout the city and the country, focusing on issues such as gun, knife and gang crimes.”
Cllr Anna Rothery, leader of the Liverpool Community Independents group, said the sisters had been “giants” for the city and paid tribute to their efforts. Cllr Rothery also praised the “overdue recognition” for Yaw Owusu, curator of the Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF).
Yaw, who sits on the Liverpool City Region Music Board, curated the Liverpool Against Racism festival last year, bringing together stakeholders from across the city for a week-long programme of events. He has worked with Liverpool FC, Google, MTV, BET, MOBO, BBC, Universal Records, Levi’s, Warner Music, while also helping to launch the careers of numerous artists.
Military veteran Bob Blanchard also received the Citizen of Honour gong for his work in the community. He set up the Breckfield North Everton Neighbourhood Council to provide practical help, advice, support and training to some of the city’s most vulnerable and hard to reach residents.
Cllr Lake described his work as a “a consistent force for good in L4” and was the “driving force” behind Liverpool Veterans HQ. The charity supports ex-armed forces personnel, reservists, their families and carers providing support, advice, guidance and referral pathways for complex issues.
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