IT'S another of these glorious 'it's too early for summer but I'm going to make the most of it' days and I'm trying to rouse Gerry Marsden.

The Gerry and the Pacemakers frontman is relaxing in his sun-soaked back garden on the Wirral and unfortunately, for me at least, has got so comfortable he's dozed off.

Luckily, his manager is on hand – all the way from the US – to rouse him.

And when I do get through to Gerry, second time lucky, the conversation couldn't be a more pleasant one.

I'm warmly addressed as 'kid', which I find not only endearing but a handy reminder that I'm talking to one of the most famous Scousers in the world.

Gerry, now 72, has become somewhat of a talisman for the mighty Liverpool FC.

His rendition of the club's anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone, has become synonymous with the reds and he famously performed it at the FA Cup final between Liverpool and Everton shortly after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

Gerry is a regular visitor to Anfield and still performs the song on big occasions at the ground.

We discuss the previous night's match against Newcastle, which Liverpool won 2-0.

“I think we were lucky,” Gerry tells me.

“I would hope we get into the Champions League this year but you can't be sure.

“I think we need a better defence.”

And for Gerry it is a pleasure to be relaxing in his garden chatting about football results because less than a year ago, things were very different.

He and his band were part of a British Invasion Tour due to travel across the US in September.

But they had to drop out when Gerry fell seriously ill.

“Me and my wife have a home in Spain and I was due to come back to get ready for the tour.

“As soon as we got off the plane, I said to my wife 'I can't breathe'.

“I just really can't breathe, please get me home, get me home.

“I told her 'this isn't good, I don't know what this is.

“She rang the ambulance and they sent the air ambulance helicopter for me.

“As soon as they came and looked at me they said 'we're taking you straight to hospital'.

“And when I was in hospital they told me I would have to stay there.

“I said 'I can't go to hospital, I've got 10 days before I have to go to America for the tour.

“The doctor turned to me and said: “I'm awfully sorry but you've got pneumonia and you'll be staying in for five weeks.

“But thank goodness, the medical staff were all tremendous and they got me back to strength.”

And that's where we find ourselves today.

Gerry is raring to go again. The band's latest tour 'Gerry Cross the Mersey' sees them travelling the length of the country, and of course, calling into Weymouth on May 2.

“I Love Weymouth and I love Dorset,” Gerry said.

“I think the crowds are great. They are very happy people.

“The town is very pretty, I can see why so many people want to come there.”

Gerry was part of the legendary Merseybeat scene in the 1960s with the band sharing management under Brian Epstein with The Beatles.

John Lennon was a close friend and Gerry still misses him every day, he said.

“He was my best friend. He was a bit mad! He had his own ideas of what he wanted.

“I do miss him a lot. It was a hard loss. It was a hard loss, a hard way to lose someone and something that is still shocking now.”

1963 saw Gerry and the Pacemakers burst onto the scene with three consecutive number ones - “How Do You Do It”, “I Like It” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Over the next few years, most of the Pacemakers subsequent hits were actually written by Gerry Marsden, including “”It’s All Right”, “I’m the One”, “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’” and “Ferry Cross the Mersey” - also the name of a film in which they starred.

Indeed, Gerry has been awarded freedom to the City of Liverpool, freedom of the Ferries and an MBE for his charity work.

“Liverpool is a great city and I love having this honour. I love the people and I still live on the Wirral peninsula and get to the Liverpool matches.

“In the middle eight of Ferry Cross the Mersey I wrote those lyrics for the people of Liverpool.

“It goes 'People around every corner, They seem to smile and say, We don't care what your name is boy, We'll never turn you away'

“And that's true for the people of Liverpool, you can walk into a pub not knowing anybody and they'll speak to you and make you feel welcome.”

Having been in the business for more than 50 years, Gerry doubts he will ever tire of it.

“I've always found the fans to be so great, so polite and so willing.

“I've been flattered to have the signs held up saying 'I love you Gerry!'

“But I've been able to live a normal life and go about my business.

“But John Lennon couldn't do that – he was mobbed. I would have hated to have had that much attention.”

And now, all these years on, Gerry would give the following advice to his younger self;

“I would say what I say to all the kids who come and talk to me about showbiz.

“Relax and enjoy yourself. Be polite and never be spoilt and get out there and enjoy yourself.”

Looking to the future, Gerry is hoping to fulfil the wishes of just some of the many fans on the band's web forum who are desperate to see the band touring to California, Calgary...the list goes on.

One thing is for sure though, back to full health, Gerry is sure to be clocking up plenty more air miles in the future.

“I will keep on touring as long as I can.

“When I'm on the stage and the audience are getting into it there's no nicer feeling.

“But I equally feel at home sitting in the sun by the pool with a nice glass of merlot. It's got to be very cold though, that's exactly how I like it.”

*Gerry and the Pacemakers are performing at Weymouth Pavilion on Saturday, May 2. Contact the venue for tickets.