Tributes flood in for Aintree legend of Liverpool's Three Graces

Jul 2 2009 by Gary Stewart, Maghull and Aintree Star

Three graces on Liverpool waterfront 460

TRIBUTES have been paid to Len Williams, the only man to be building manager of all three of Liverpool’s graces.

Mr Williams, from Aintree, passed away in June, aged 70, after battling illness.

Colleagues said he loved his job, managing the Port of Liverpool Building which he took over in 2000, and never made plans to retire. Prior to that, he had performed the same role in the Cunard Building.

Friends fondly recall how he once fulfilled his ambition to become the manager of all Three Graces on the waterfront – even just for one day.

Five years ago, he was given permission to run the Liver Building for 24 hours to make his dream come true.

Sally O’Brien, joint chief executive of Downing, which owns the Port of Liverpool building, said: “Len became building manager just after we bought the building.

“He was instrumental in helping us turn it round and getting to know the building, and was heavily involved in the restoration work that has just been undertaken.”

Mr Williams was an authority on the building itself, and led guided tours for anyone interested in finding out more about it.