Picton Play Soundwalk

"I lived at Damien John Kelly house on Wavertree High Street for just over 2 years.

It’s where I started my recovery journey, and it’s still a massive part of my life to this day. Although I don't live there anymore, I've got this connection to it. And when I revisit, it just feels like coming home. Being on that 79 bus coming down the High Street, just-just remembering the takeaways and the shops and the restaurants and the people, the community spirit. It’s a beautiful place, it really is. I lived in Yorkshire, in Barnsley for 41 years, and were in a cycle of addiction. So you could say that I started my life in Wavertree, I were reborn in Wavertree, that’s where I started to learn, and that's where I got a sense of community and belonging. A purpose, and I carry that on into my life now and that’s for the people of-of Wavertree, but mainly the work that I did in Damien John Kelly House and the people there. I'll be forever grateful. Everything I've got in my life now, started in 63-69 High Street in Wavertree. Beautiful place. You got the Mystery Park across the road, you got the tree lined streets behind yous, you got the little takeaways, Bravo’s, five quid for a doner kebab wrap meal - that became my new addiction at one point. Five quid, and you get a wrap, portion of chips and a can of coke. What more could you ask for?

But my favourite spot on the High Street were Fozia’s. Beautiful Kashmiri restaurant, and a lovely lady as well. She cooked for a few times. I remember we did, we did a fast for Ramadan one year, and she cooked a banquet end at night. Oh! Yeah definitely the best meal I’ve ever had, that. Especially after fasting as well. Highly recommend Fozia’s. Um, little shop next door to us, um, the shop owner affectionately called Dave. He's obviously not called Dave, but he-he's a big part of that community and I spent a lot of time there buying Pepsi Max and Beef Monster Munch. And I still go there, every time I go back I make sure I go in and see Dave, say hello and buy a Pepsi Max.

I've got a lot of love for Wavertree, a lot of love for Damien John Kelly House and I'm grateful every day." (Transcript)

"I was a resident at Damien John Kelly House for about 3 years in Wavertree. So part of Wavertree's role in my time there, was it being so close to where I grown up, um, I didn't realise until I came to DJK how close it was. So I’m originally from Toxteth, Lodge Lane, quite close by, and even in the first couple of weeks realising the “oh, this is where, this is where I'm from”, had an effect.

I’d moved about, always in Liverpool, but, em, never near where I was from, so Crosby was where spent most of my time. And, I suppose, I don't know if this is because of Wavertree or anything to do with Wavertree, but the experience that I had was, feeling like I was a member of the community of Wavertree, and what I mean by that is, um, I was very friendly with passerbys in the street, I frequented the local shops regularly – either alone or with other residents – to the point that I felt like really cordial with with those people. Um, you know, just going to the shop was sort of a new thing to be doing sober, um, returning, getting to know shopkeepers, that kind of thing.

Another thing about living in Wavertree, uhm, was how boss it was to to just walk around without like a much of a plan in mind, so we do a lot of these like photo walks or we'd be walking from like one place to another, and the Botanical Gardens is an example, or Wavertree Park, the Mystery park, so we’d be going up and down the main street quite a bit, and going around the back streets, and it was the back streets that were really enjoyed. It kind of woke up this, this love of just mooching about. And taking in the surroundings, and for me Wavertree has a lot to offer in that regard, um, we went on a history walk once, and a fella, I forget his name, took us around the area and pointed out loads of historic buildings, and told us a little bit about the history, and that really added to it. You know, just walking around, looking at, looking at all the decay, looking at all the old and the new.

Another thing that I really found positive about the area, and being in the area, was the diversity of people. So everything from like social diversity, age, gender, race, religion. It was… like walking out in the street, I felt like completely swept up in the hustle and bustle of the area.

It's like it always seemed busy, even though there wasn't really anything going on, um, and I think that really helped regulate me. You know, as someone who's been severely isolated for most of my life, absolutely bricking it at the prospect of stepping outside in case anyone sees me, um, I felt like it was, it really got that out of me, to be stepping out - people there, going anywhere - people there, so always engaging with people even when I didn't realise I was." (Transcript)

"I lived at Damien John Kelly House whilst I was a resident between September 2019 and November 2021. The foundation of my recovery was built in L15 on Wavertree High Street. The High Street was the artery to the rest of the world for two years. The 79 taking me to town and beyond. The crossing at Pickton Road offering an opportunity to practice patience in the near constant buildup of traffic. The mystery become my garden, and Dave’s became my place of sustenance. Tesco meal deal ratings, Black Star and Bravo. Being taken to the chippy only to find out that on arrival it was in fact a Chinese. I learned about the baggie, and the world in liminal green and yellows. Scouse words made their way into my dialect as I opened in more way than one. Liverpool got under my skin. The terraced streets that sprang off the High Street reminded me of home, though these all had bay windows.

I occupied the space of one of these windows at DJK, downstairs, room 9, my desk fitting perfect into the recess. Behind me the sounds of men getting well, in front of me, the hum of life. Golden hour lights the High Street beautifully shining all the way down, illuminating the clock at the top and leading the way to Harry’s. Anna Jung’s is still the best chippy I've ever been to, and likely will ever go to. Mid-lockdown days and barbeque ribs. Smithdown opening Allerton and Sefton Park, Love Wavertree and the other charity shop adjacent which is now a Turkish barbers.

The first meal with my family sober in Eureka, long live Saganaki, Sub Umbra Floreo. In the shade I flourish, and in the shade of the High Street I did this. Formed a new identity and a new way of life. Met friends, role models and mentors, and became a part of, a part of something bigger than myself. A community.

Wavertree lit something inside me, drew me in, and incubated a curiosity for life I still carry today." (Transcript)

"I was a resident at DJK house, um, I was there for a few months and it was during lockdown as well actually, so everywhere was really quiet. But…

You know, in that time I got to meet a lot of the local people in the local shops, especially on the High Street, up and down the High Street, the local people there. They were really- they were really great. Made me feel very welcome, um, you know, and also if I was out and about, if we were on walks, playing footy in the park, on a bike ride or something, um, you know you got talking to the locals and that. And yeah, they were all really nice.

So Wavertree sort of became my safe place, you know, a home from home in that time and I really enjoyed it, like, but now these days, if I pop back to DJK or even if I'm just passing through Wavertree, you know, I always think to myself: Wavertree was the first place where I started making new memories, you know, good memories away from addiction. So it always, it always makes me smile when I pass through." (Transcript)

"I lived at DJK house. While I was a Wavertree resident, the first thing I remember, was my first day in Wavertree. And I didn't know anyone at the house. And I said to one of the residents, “fancy something to eat?” So we ended up walking up to Harry’s. And I just remember it being a lovely roasting hot day. And the staff in there were great. And the fish and chips was fantastic. And in the background I seen the park and I thought, “I like it on this road.”

After that I got pretty familiar, with some cafes and restaurants along the road. And I remember going to the Greek, when I’d been living there for maybe a couple of weeks, and again, the staff in there, they were just lovely. Been back there several times since. Papa's. I was in and out of Papa’s quite a lot. They used to do a lovely breakfast. And it all just formed a part of, that part of the High Street.

The Mystery again for me, is a lovely place, just a fantastic area. I mean, the lads regularly train there, I still go back there now at least a couple of times a month, we do a lot of running on the Mystery, and again, it's just a fabulous space. Everyone's always very welcoming, you know, we’d run past people and they're always letting on. It is just a boss park, it really is.

The big thing for me, was the charity shops. I'd never been in a charity shop really. Well I had done with my ma, but, you know, I’d always find it a bit like you know, “Oh I’m not going in charity shops, second hand.”

And, you know, four years ago, nearly five years ago, 2021, I was introduced to – we went on a, like a charity shop crawl, let's call it. And it totally changed my mindset and my mind about clothing, and I believe that’s down to, you know, a certain part of Wavertree.

And again, you know, I keep talking about the people, but the people who work in them charity shops are absolutely lovely, very humble people. Most of them do voluntary work, and Wavertree’s just a boss place – the coincidence is, I grew up in Wavertree, in Paddington Gardens. From when I was born till I was about 5, so I've got some roots there and I'm really, really happy to be reintroduced to Wavertree when I did back in 2021. It’s definitely my second home. Is right." (Transcript)

WANT A CAPER? A BREAK? A RARE TREAT? A NEW ANORAK TO WEAR ON A BAT TRICK BOAT? WANT PEACE ON TAP? Wave at peace in Wavertree Botanic Park. A ROTTEN WEEK AT WORK? BREW AN INTENT. TAKE TEA, BEER, A TAROT PACK, A TONIC: BE A PICTON TERRAPIN OR NEWT, a tree even. In ever tip top, nice Wavertree Botanic Park. IN A CRONE-BONITA PANIC? VOTE ROBIN, RAVEN, PARAKEET. PREEN, CROW, RANT, CAVORT – AT A BETTER PACE. Creep or trek or pitter patter over – to Wavertree Botanic Park. OR BE AN ACROBAT ON AN APRICOT VACATION: PARTAKE – PAINT A PINK TREE, A PEWTER RIVER, WRITE A PROVERB in take-it-or-leave-it tree-bark arena - Wavertree Botanic Park. EAT PIRATE CAKE IN A TIARA, CREATE A RETORT TO A BORE – WE WERE WET ONCE, ARE RAINBOW ARROW, BANTER BRAIN NOW – Avert war, brave rain, renew, AWAKE! In Wavertree Botanic Park

Reading in Picton Library, 20 September 2025 STORIES, MYSTERY AND LOVE by Hanan Issa, Sophie Herxheimer & Joelle Taylor - Tales about Wavertree and Picton

Make Time For Love

Verse 1

We are a community We can’t have that without unity Everyone can live in harmony

When you work together it’s strong Feeling like you belong Please don’t get me wrong We want you involved

Chorus

No community without unity No community without No community without unity No community without

Verse 2

You can love yourself in reflection It will create stronger connections

Vinyl shops and public parks They resonate in our hearts They’re places where we belong Let’s sing this from the start

Chorus

No community without unity No community without No community without unity No community without

Bridge

We go through life It’s real hard sometimes Let’s come together and shine bright

Capeesh is with me The CIC I need We come together and shine bright

Chorus

No community without unity No community without No community without unity No community without LOVE credits released December 9, 2025 Capeesh CIC young people; Samya O'Grady; Metal Liverpool Arts Project. Listen here: https://capeeshcollective.bandcamp.com/track/make-time-for-love

Recorded at MUMA Studio, Wavertree, Liverpool. (Produced by Alex Habeck).

With funding support from the London Music Fund/Amplify Liverpool and The Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside.