an Independent Scientists and technologists Aerodynamicists Gwen Alston and Melvill Jones were born in Birkenhead, as was Henry Herbert Collier, inventor and founder of the Matchless motorcycle marque. Soldiers and explorers Sandy Irvine, a participant of the 1924 British Mount Everest expedition, was born in Birkenhead. There has been speculation that George Mallory and he reached the summit. Similarly, Alan Rouse, a mountaineer who died in the 1986 K2 disaster, was educated in Birkenhead. Daniel Poole, a recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal during World War I was born in the town. Sports people Birkenhead has also produced notable sportsmen such as Matt Dawson, the rugby union player; 'Dixie' Dean (Everton F.C.), record-breaking footballer, who was born at 313 Laird Street; and several other footballers including Peter Davenport, Jason McAteer, David Thompson, Max Power, Jodie Taylor England Lionesses International. The football manager Nigel Adkins also hails from the town. Other Gary Finlay, the murderer of Graham McKenna, was born in Birkenhead. Twin towns Birkenhead is twinned, as a part of Wirral, with: Gennevilliers, France Latina, Lazio, Italy Lorient, France Twin towns – Sister cities Birkenhead also has a Sister City Agreement with: Midland, Texas, United States Future The major redevelopment project under consideration is Peel Holdings' "Wirral Waters". This would allow for £4.5 billion of investment in the regeneration of the dockland area. This equates with an investment of over £14,000 for each of the 320,000 residents of the Wirral. At the East Float and Vittoria Dock, the development would include of new office space and for new residential flats. A retail and leisure quarter at the former Bidston Dock site would encompass another of space. The whole project would create more than 27,000 permanent new jobs, aside from the employment required for construction and other peripheral employment. The development would be expected to take up to thirty years. See also Listed buildings in Birkenhead References Sources Further reading External links Birkenhead & Surrounds Towns in Merseyside Port cities and towns in North West England Port cities and towns of the Irish Sea Towns and villages in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral Unparished areas in Merseyside Populated coastal places in Merseyside