THE memory of legendary DJ and music icon John Peel OBE, who died four years ago, has been honoured by Merseytravel’s naming of a train after him in a ceremony at Liverpool South Parkway station.

Born John Robert Parker Ravenscroft in Heswall, Wirral in Merseyside in 1939, the region was always dear to the famed DJ’s heart, and one of his favourite songs, Amsterdam’s  ‘Does this Train Stop on Merseyside?’, was performed by the band’s Ian Prowse for guests at the naming ceremony.

John Peel was the longest serving of the original BBC Radio One DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until 2004, and among guests at the naming was his widow , Sheila Ravenscroft, who said: “John just loved that song and always became emotional when he played it, and we are delighted that he is being honoured with the naming of this train.”

Merseytravel’s chief executive and director general Neil Scales added: “Having Sheila with us to launch the train makes it that extra bit special. It will be forever linked to John, a man whose influence on music remains unparalleled.”

After its naming, Sheila travelled on the train into the city, giving copies of her edited collection of John’s writings, ‘The Olivetti Chronicles’, to surprised passengers.