The postponed 2024/25 MTC Civic Awards were presented at The Venue, St. George’s Social Club on 6.11.25. With many thanks to everyone involved in organising this event celebrating and reminding us of the inspiring community kindness that surrounds us every day in Maghull. There were six categories, with two removed from the previous year (best local business and environmental due to only one nomination for each) to create more generic options. The Public Spirit award was won by Asa Murphy and Ken Harrison (Ken pictured with MTC Leader Chloe Parker) and nominated by FOMD.

Public Spirit Award: Awarded to a person, business or organisation that has contributed to residents’ enjoyment of their community through acts of kindness or donations to the community.

Please state in no more than 200 words details for which you consider that the nominee should receive a Civic Award.

The Friends of Maghull & District are one of over 40 wide ranging local causes that have been overjoyed to receive precious donations from Asa and his lifelong friend Ken, over the two years.

Asa & Ken have recently reached their donation target of over £10,000 from their fortnightly Thursday charity evenings of music and poetry at the Cabin Coffee & Wine Bar. Their heartwarming mission has donated £10,000 to local good causes by altruistically forsaking their Thursday night fees. They are currently considering extending the objective to £25,000!

The informal evenings are friendly, welcoming, humorous with a combination of poetry readings (courtesy of Ken) and wonderful music performances by Asa who has an incredible range of singing genres and an unbelievable vocal range alongside his acoustic guitar playing. Asa is not only a talented musician, but also a playwright, children’s book author, actor, radio presenter, celebrant and much more. More Info at: https://www.facebook.com/asa.murphy.18

Most people will agree that on meeting Asa you will always feel better for his creativity and the warmth of his company, whilst Ken is an astute and hilariously talented poetic observer of life. They really are unsung jewels in our community and provide inspirational lifelines to many local good causes.

Please describe in no more than 200 words the benefits resulting from the nominee’s service to a particular field, area, group or community.

  • Please see the attached list of local good causes that have benefited from Asa and Ken’s donations

Supporting letter from Diane Harvey below.

Asa Murphy is one of the most kind, generous & inspirational men in Maghull.

For the past 2 years he has given his £100 fee for playing every fortnight at The Kabin plus another £100 from his own money to local charities. This amounts to £200 per local charity together with other charities across Merseyside.

In total, Asa has generously donated £10,000 which is a monumental achievement & appreciated by each charity.

If one of the charities invited Asa to their premises/meeting point, he does not give a cursory maybe reply but actually personally visits the charity to give his full support in his own valuable free time.

In addition to donating £10,000, Asa has brought members of the community together every fortnight who were initially strangers but now have friendly conversations & sing along together to Asa’s songs.

Asa is a pillar of the Maghull community & truly deserves a prestigious civic award to acknowledge his wonderful achievements.

Di Harvey