Every Saturday I'd have tea with a celebrity at my nan's house

If you grew up in Merseyside, you'll have heard the triumphant stories about Grand National winner Red Rum and the man who famously trained him - Donald 'Ginger' McCain.

Born on May 3, 1965, at the Rossenarra stud in Kells, County Kilkenny in Ireland, Red Rum was bred to be a sprinter but would go on to become one of the greatest long-distance chasers. Owned by Noel Le Mare, it was Southport car dealer Ginger who spotted Red Rum and trained the horse on the sands at Southport Beach.

It's now been over 50 years since Red Rum's first Grand National victory. He won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, as well as coming second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976.

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Almost no trainer enjoyed the world’s greatest steeplechase and Aintree Racecourse more than Ginger McCain. Growing up with his three siblings Audrey, Sally and William in Southport, his legacy lives on in the area and beyond.

As part of the Liverpool ECHO's How It Used To Be series, we spoke to his nephew, Guy Grenville, 52, about his memories growing up around Red Rum and pieces of his history that have been unseen to the public for decades. Guy, from Southport, told the ECHO: "My grandparents' house, Sarah and William McCain's, was a family house and is actually three doors down from my house, my mother, Audrey's old house, which I inherited when she passed away in 1999.

"Their house was always like a central hub for the family. Many Saturday mornings were spent there with Uncle Donnie and Auntie Beryl or we'd go out in my mum's mini and visit them when they weren't racing. We were all immensely proud of him but when he came round to the house it was just Uncle Donnie has come round and we're having cups of tea and cakes and there's Red Rum.

"Red Rum would come round to visit grandma and grandad, there's pictures of him in the drive - he was just like part of the family. We'd go see him and spend the afternoons having nice chats."

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Red Rum was a celebrity in his own right, loved by the people of Southport and horse racing lovers across the globe. But growing up in the family, Guy said he didn't understand the extent of Ginger and Red Rum's fame until years later.

He said: "I don't think for me anyway it ever quite sunk in until I was older. I was born in 1972, he won his first race in 1973, then 1974, then 1977 so I was only 5. I was still very young at that time to understand the impact.

"I remember sitting in the living room one time with my Uncle Donnie and Emlyn Hughes was there and at the time, he was the captain for Liverpool. I was about six or seven, he was sat there and I just thought it's uncle Donnie and his friend Emlyn.

"I'm running round the living room and the phone goes and it's for Emlyn - you had to ring people's houses then, it was long before mobiles and he left me with a packet of Hula Hoops. I ate them all and then he came back - so we always had this joke me and my mum that I owed Emlyn Hughes a packet of Hula Hoops.

"He actually gave me a Liverpool top. That's why I support Liverpool, because I ate Emlyn Hughes' Hula Hoops."

After years in the spotlight, Red Rum died at the age of 30 on October 18, 1995, and is buried, fittingly, by the winning post at Aintree racecourse. He is still up there with best-known horses in Britain and remembered fondly by the racing community, the residents of Merseyside and more.

Ginger won the Grand National three times in 1973, 1974 and 1977 with the famous Red Rum and then again in 2004 with Amberleigh House. Ginger retired from training after the 2006 Grand National and his son Donald McCain Jr took over the business training another Aintree winner, Ballabriggs.

Ginger died in 2011 at the age of 80, but his legacy and that of Red Rum's lives on - especially in treasures Guy has recently rediscovered. Decades ago, Guy's mum, Audrey, stored a number of birthday and Christmas cards sent to Red Rum by loyal fans when Beryl and Ginger were moving house.

More recently, Guy was renovating his loft when he found the cards again. Guy said: "There's over 30 cards all together.

"They're all massive, you're talking about the late 70s, early 80s. I can't explain how much work has gone into these.

"There’s two massive, what is A2 sized pieces of paper and every single millimetre has so much intricate artwork all around the card and on the inside. There's the writing, the poems about how great he was.

"There’s even a musical card that believe it or not plays a tune still. The love and attention to detail - it’s just beautiful."

The 70s style cards also reflect a time before social media and the internet, when fan mail would be sent to celebrities. Before online shopping for various craft items, Red Rum fans spent hours sourcing materials for their card creations.

Guy hopes the cards will spark memories for Red Rum fans and that those who made them might also see them again after decades. He said: "It is like a time capsule because there's nothing like these in existence on the planet, there's only 32 of these that exist.

"It's priceless, timeless and such a beacon of love and adoration. It just goes to show how people really felt about Red Rum and it's humbling to be in possession of things like this. I'm just grateful to be able to share it with others."

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