AS the world awaits "Global Scouse Day" isn't it time Wirral made its own mark?

Yesterday I attended a "cultural strategy consultation" meeting to see how we can bring out the best from creatives (in fact everyone) in helping put Wirral on the must see and enjoy hit list.

A chance to start showing what is great about the area for Wirral residents and tourists, this all fits in with council leader Phil Davies and his ambitious 2020 vision.

For a start, I am delighted to hear that the Light Cinema in New Brighton is showing a film celebrating the visit of the Three Cunard Queens last year.

I mentioned the fact that Wirral never gets recognition, in this very column last week. Sail on.

Wirral is often overlooked when it comes to big Merseyside events.

WHY?

Wirral has a lot to be proud of.

Enviable greenery and scenery and it has its arts in the right place with so many well-respected theatres and drama companies and stunning galleries such as the Lady Lever and Williamson.

I regularly receive David Brown's excellent arts newsletter which details the diverse cultural heartbeat of the area.

Here's an Inferno suggestion to start what I call "Wonder ... full Wirral."

Catchy, don't you think?

It has nothing to do with golf.

Liverpool has Scouse ... well, this side of the Mersey is renowned for its food and drink heritage.

So how about inviting creative culinary types to come up with a Wirral dish.

We could try our own Globe-backed Great Wirral Bake Off and get local hero Paul Hollywood to judge.

Councillors, if you are reading this column I am more than happy to help too.

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I AM looking forward to seeing the big screen re make of Dad's Army for one special reason.

Many years ago I met a young shy actress with a lovely Welsh accent at the launch of a series called The Darling Buds of May.

At the press shin-dig my fellow hacks flocked to interview David Jason.

I decided to chat to this beautiful girl who confided in me she was daunted by such an occasion but had bought a new outfit in her native Swansea for the event.

I knew there and then she would be a house hold name. So natural.

She said to me "you must interview me again if I become famous."

Years later she starred in Zorro and won an Oscar for Chicago.

I did get to interview her and she gave me a kiss which made the waiter trip over as he asked her to sign a napkin.

Catherine Zeta Jones is pure class, as famous as her hubby Michael Douglas and someone who has never forgotten her roots.

Dad's Army has captured a real star.

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I ONCE went out with a girl from Iowa (cost me a fortune in taxis).

This happy time was brought back to me when I was watching the US primaries where they start to select presidential nominees in Iowa I was once asked who was the most charismatic person I have come across.

I have to say Hillary Clinton.

I was mesmerised by her aura when I attended a rally in Florida when she was First Lady.

I believe and hope her intelligence, wit and humour will take her to the White House. She holds her own trump card.

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WHAT the Dickens is going on?

The BBC came up with Dickensian – a novel idea to bring together all of Charles Dickens best characters in a soap opera format.

But it has been moved around the schedules so much that I have now lost the plot.

I would however tune in to see two spin-offs: a series featuring Mr Bucket played by Stephen Rea and a sit com built around Mrs Gamp played by Pauline Collins who was brought up in Wallasey.

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AND finally ... Valentine's Day approaches and reminds me of a canny street trader I once came across in Birkenhead market selling Valentine cards saying: "To the only one I love..."

Very touching.

Shame they were on sale in packs of five.

Peter Grant