‘WE saved the world from boredom,’’ said George Harrison.

‘‘We were just a band who made it very, very big that’s all,’’ said John. Ringo always nodded.

But last week Sir Paul McCartney simply - yet magically - summed up the lasting legacy of The Beatles. He said they gave us all “pleasure.”

At LIPA, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts where he is a hands-on lead patron, he praised the graduates who will go on to do the same “giving pleasure” he said.

Sir Paul, who had played the Cavern two days earlier, said he is always moved by people who come up to him and say “Beatles music got me through exams” or “helped me through a serious illness.” He shook his famous moptop and smiled at the 250 students from 16 different countries attending the ceremony with families and friends having completed degrees or foundation certificate programmes.

This was the 21st graduation and was the most uplifting of all I have attended since they first started. I have only missed one.

I had a sick note to prove it.

Paul and inspirational chief executive and founding principal Mark Featherstone-Witty have been there at them all. It is a privilege to be in their company.

There is a real family feel to the ceremony and it’s not only the students who are rightly being applauded. Each year luminaries of the arts and entertainment world are made “Companions.” Joan Armatrading, Willy Russell and Matthew Bourne are three who have been given the special cap and gown along with other leading lights in their respective fields It is recognition for outstanding achievement and contribution to student training. This year Nile Rogers and Toyah Wilcox sat on stage loving every minute of the three-hour event while giving out advice.

I have interviewed Paul many times and reviewed him in concert but I have never seen him happier than at this annual home-coming.

As graduates throw their mortar boards in the air I always leave the building with the Liverpool Institute motto ringing in my ears: “Not for ourselves alone but for the whole world were we born.”

A message that also sums up LIPA’s unique world class ideology. Giving pleasure is now a mission statement for every single graduate.

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AT EASE...it was 50 years ago yesterday that we first saw the screening of the controversial sit-com about the Home Front called Dad’s Army.

Five decades it is still a ratings winner. The original nine series lasted nearly twice as long as the war itself. I was lucky to have interviewed some of the cast and the writers. Ian Lavender told me people still come up to him and shout out a line from his most memorable scene - “Don’t tell him, Pike.”

And Bill Pertwee, who played ARP warden Hodges, revealed that he couldn’t go into a pub without people saying “put that light out.”

But my favourite star was Wigan-born Colin Bean who never sought fame but became one of TV’s most famous extras as Private Sponge who was promoted to a speaking role.

Writers Perry and Croft told me that just like The Beatles they wanted to simply give pleasure.

It shows the genius of the show that after a repeat of a classic episode this week, the BBC announcer said over the familiar song and credits. “Dad’s Army is now available on digital download.” The legend lives on.

PAWS for thought. Dogs used to be called Rover, Prince or Fido.

Imagination has now gone to the dogs, so to speak. The UK’s top ten canine names have just been revealed and in the lead is Bella. Others include the rather fetching Lola, Mollie and Daisy.

Our gracious Queen Elizabeth named one of her corgis Monty and she has pet names for all of the others. Closer to home musician Pete Wylie called his four-legged pal Shankly.

But my favourite name came from a friend in Blackheath in London who called his loyal Labrador George Bailey after the character in the film It’s A Wonderful Life.

He said it reminded him how lucky he was every single morning as he walked his dog thinking how he could make a difference and care about others.

If ever I get a pooch I will call him Guinness after a much-missed, long-lost friend.

BARKING Donald Trump loves being top dog. Now it seems his presidency has inspired canines to go into politics. Over in Finland, Michigan, USA they have elected the village cat as mayor. I’ve started so I’ll Finnish...it is inspiring The village goat has also been made press secretary.

Hopefully this will catch on in town halls from Wallasey to Wolverhampton.

THESE are worrying times. I might borrow my pal’s George Bailey. I woke up today to hear that while North Korea appear to be making more nuclear weapons the other most read item on websites was the winner of Love Island

Happily I have exiled myself from this celebration of capped teeth, low IQs and forthcoming panto careers. BBC’s Breakfast offered “analysis.” Ironically it followed an item about impending robots taking our jobs and how a quarter of the population lack any digital skills

Surely it is time for a Virtual Reality channel where we can dump such programmes as Love Island, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and Big Brother. PG certificates all round.

AND finally...John Bishop recently recalled his own obligatory cap and gown pictures.

‘‘I didn’t realise you could rent them for the graduation shot. I thought to myself why didn’t I do that and not bother with the studying.’’ John, you would make a great MP.

Peter Grant