THE past few weeks have shown us all that musicians and artists can change the world through love.

The deaths of some household names have seen us mourn in a way that politicians and world leaders could never instil in us all.

Only Nelson Mandela had the common touch.

Now we have lost David Bowie.

I recall crying the day I thought the music had died when John Lennon was killed. But I knew his legacy would live on.

Bowie was someone I grew up with. His every song – like a loving family photograph – still brings back memories.

His Let's Dance album remains the soundtrack to the happiest time of my life.

You know the measure of a person by the people who love him or her. That is so true.

But when condolences come from our Prime Minister and other world leaders and the Vatican you realise that David Bowie was supernatural.

He saved the world from boredom.

One of my biggest regrets occurred while I was working in London for a national paper and was invited to a 'top secret' press conference.

Due to a train dispute I arrived ten minutes after it was over. A glowing, fellow journalist asked: "Where were you?"

The star man was David Bowie who was announcing a tour and came on stage to do an intimate 30 minute acoustic set.

He introduced it by saying :"I'm David Bowie and you're not."

Pure genius.

My good friend Phil Key, who was arts reporter for the Bromley and Kentish Times in the 60s, met David Jones who simply turned up at the reception asking to be interviewed about his new single.

Even then the soon to be named David Bowie was in control of his own destiny.

Phil said he was a Brixton boy with ambition. I felt like I knew David Bowie personally .... millions did, too.

And now wherever you are David ... "Everyone says Hi"– the title of a song that will remind me of your life and unforgettable departure.

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TALKING of unforgettable people, I was sorry to hear of the death of singer Natalie Cole – daughter of the great Nat King Cole.

I met her in London when she was promoting an album of duets specially re-recorded with her late iconic dad.

It is beautiful album just like the lady herself. She was a great campaigner against racism.

With tears in her eyes Natalie told me she awoke one Christmas morning to see her father outside the house with a tin of paint.

"He was painting over racist comments daubed on the fence of our home. Dad just painted them out and never said a word.

"But I never forgot the mindless racism that existed but he brushed it away with dignity."

And we have now lost Lemmy from Motörhead.

I have interviewed some great international stars in my time.

I had trepidation when I met Alice Cooper but he was a gentleman who invited me to a game of golf.

Lou Reed was a very funny man who loved to taunt journalists.

Lemmy was like a big tattooed bear.

I told him how I owned a Motörhead lapel badge given to me by a struggling artist who Lemmy has helped out by commissioning work.

"We must meet up for a Jack Daniels," he said. And we did .... oh boy!

If only our politicians could communicate with us all the same way what a better world this would be.

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I RECALL as a child going to Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton to see an exhibition.

An oven from a concentration camp was featured alongside Nazi literature. I can never forget the impact on me.

My dad said ... "you won't understand, son."

I do now. I support Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27.

I hope school children learn from the past just like me – that young duffle-coated kid in New Brighton bewildered by man’s inhumanity to his fellow man.

I admire our local playwright and poet, Birkenhead-born John Gorman who will be presenting two Holocaust-themed plays plays on the day at St George's Hall.

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FINALLY ... Charles Dickens loved Wirral – I just hope Pauline Collins, who grew up in Wallasey and plays Mrs Gamp in the BBC hit series, Dickensian, gives us a plug. The gin will be on me.

Novel indeed!

Peter Grant