CULTURE Vulture time ...

As we await news of the next City of Culture for 2021, Wirral should throw its hat into the metaphorical ring for 2025.

The borough has so much to offer in terms of culture and the arts.

Granted it's not a 'city', but a town which counts on the criteria for competing and Birkenhead (if it ever gets the long overdue promised investment) would be an ideal focal point.

I was surprised that Chester was rejected for the 2017 title.

Maybe next time a Wirral and Chester joint bid could be an option.

After all, Newcastle and Gateshead came second to Liverpool in the European Capital of Culture race in 2008.

Such prestigious titles are certainly worth having as they boost the local economy and improve an area’s image.

Being City of Culture has helped Hull enormously.

Wirral is ideal to stand up and be counted as a place of excellence when it comes to culture, arts and history.

Just imagine celebrity endorsements from sport to theatre, music and literature.

There is so much to shout about here as we welcome this year’s Wirral History and Heritage Open Days from September 2 to 10.

Each year my eyes are opened to many hidden delights of Wirral.

This year, for example, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Welsh National Eisteddfod of the Black Chair which was held in Birkenhead Park.

The whole of the country will celebrate Heritage Days promoting their outstanding architecture and culture offering free access to thousands of properties, many of which are usually closed.

The Wirral History and Heritage Association are doing a terrific job saying 'come and see what we have to offer.' 

If the powers that be ever create an "Historic England Centre of Excellence Award" Wirral would be a front-runner.

For now, let's have some 2020 vision and put a bid in and capitalise on our past and present more than we do.

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TALKING of heritage – we need one piece of music history back.

What on earth were BT and the council doing when they took away the famous phone box in Meols that was a huge attraction for OMD fans?

The Globe on-line features comments from fans who, like fuming frontman Andy McLuskey, are outraged.

When I was living in Meols I would take visitors to this real life 'souvenir' of OMD's past – in essence it was their office.

It’s ideal for the Liverpool Museum’s pop section or how about being placed at one of the ferry terminals.

Imagine if this had been a phone box used by The Beatles.

There would be a massive cry of Help! to get it back.

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BEATLES are for sale ... again.

Stephen Bailey, manager of the Beatle shop in Mathew Street, told the Inferno that 'nothing surprises him anymore' when asked to value objects un-earthed for the annual Fab Four Convention auction over the Bank Holiday weekend.

In the past, items such as an early Paul McCartney front door from his Forthlin Road abode was up for grabs.

This year at the auction (I call it Lot it Be ) a pair of Ringo's shoes are being sold and a notebook belonging to John Lennon which has been bought for 20p in a second hand shop and is now worth thousands.

But surely one lot in another auction next month is simply gruesome.

The grave deeds of Eleanor Rigby.

Paul has stated that this Ms Rigby is not the same person that features in his song.

The original name was Daisy Dawking (has anyone seen her tombstone?).

But he changed it to Eleanor Rigby after seeing a sign in a Bristol wine shop called Rigby and using the first name after actress Eleanor Bron who co-starred with The Beatles in the film Help!

There is a grave to the lady in St Peter's Woolton where John met Paul, but Macca has always stuck to his story.

I once asked Paul how he would define The Beatles?

It wasn't down to keepsakes.

"Go home and play the music," he said.

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HAPPY Birthday to Willy Russell who is 70 today.

Russell is the true Renaissance man – playwright, author and now artist.

Many from Wirral have travelled to see his five star exhibition Another Aspect in Kirkby Gallery, which ends on September 2.

Modest Willy told me he had alternative titles for his exhibition: A tribute to picture framing or don't give up the day job.

Happily he will never do the latter.

Shirley Valentine is coming to the Floral Pavilion in September and Blood Brothers with Lyn Paul is at the Storyhouse in Chester in October.

Write on, Willy.

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EUREKA – Ulrika!

Light entertainment quality has taken a nosedive.

So declares Ulrika Jonsson.

Things must be bad coming from the former host of Gladiators.

Len Goodman's Partners in Rhyme - a new quiz show for Saturday night leaves me lost for words.

Here contestants have to find out clues from infantile rhymes.

Here's my own poetic review:

"I give Len strictly none out of ten, and the sack...

"That was one half hour, I won't ever get back."

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AND finally ... Big Ben is taking time off for four years.

The people I feel most sorry for are the security team who will now be forced to work around the clock ...

Peter Grant