WHEN St Paul wrote his letters to The Corinthians they never wrote back ... not even a postcard.

Late Irish comedian Sean Hughes would often feature the observation in his act.

Apart from referring to dreaded 'Dear John' letters (the 'sorry but you've been dumped' correspondence), Sean would make a case that when you take time to write to someone the least you can expect is a response.

Good, bad or indifferent - at least a reply proves your letter hasn't been 'lost in the post.'

One of the main complaints about today's politicians is that they don’t always reply or even acknowledge letters from the public.

As we all await our local elections, those who have contacted councillors and heard not a dicky bird back will certainly bear this in mind when they venture to the polling stations on May 2.

Robert Wilkinson, who runs the Wirral Good Dogs Campaign, is frustrated.

He tells me that numerous missives he sent to WBC councillors and officers about his willingness to help out with canine and litter matters have led to zero activity.

Robert calls it their 'collective lack of motivation.'

Surely replying to a letter is - first and foremost - good manners.

It works both ways.

When any council writes to you they expect you to write back before a deadline they have set.

If you don't, they always write again.

Sometimes they even get officious with legal threats.

So it is reassuring that council leader Phil Davies - the tsar of zero tolerance - believes in writing letters.

Yet I am sure Wirral Against Litter Police, dogged Mr Wilkinson and many other disillusioned residents and traders would not take one of his final epistles - in his capacity as WBC leader - seriously.

In a letter accompanying Council Tax notifications Mr Davies declares: "This administration will continue to protect the vulnerable, support local businesses, create new jobs and improve the quality of life its residents enjoy.

"To do this we will have to change how we deliver services to make them cost effective.

"But we will continue to put the well being of all our residents first."

Your sincerely, Phil Davies.

PS (from the Inferno, not Phil).

Many disgruntled folk tell me they wanted to write 'return to sender' on the envelope, but being good citizens, they simply sighed at the 'remarkable' irony.

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HERE's a stamp of proof that our postal service is a fine institution.

I wrote to an author friend of mine in Norfolk who has always had a mischievous streak.

He had written to me asking about life 'up North' in these uncertain, Brexit-bombarded, Northern Powerhouse-infused times.

I duly responded and on the reverse of the envelope I scribbled ... "If undelivered then I don’t think much of the Royal Mail."

My pal wrote to tell me he laughed when it had arrived and revealed the postman must have also given his seal of approval to it, too, because tongue-in-cheekily underneath my scribbling was a winking emoji-styled PostMan Pat with thumbs up.

First class, indeed.

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GRAMMY award-winning singer songwriter Paul Williams sang that 'every act of kindness is a little bit of love we leave behind us.'

One man who would agree with that sentiment is our man about Wirral - Billy Butler. No longer on the Radio Merseyside airwaves, he may be gone but is clearly not forgotten.

Former Cavern DJ Billy is much-in-demand for his musical knowledge and last week was called upon by The One Show to wax lyrical about his Merseybeat mates - The Searchers on their farewell tour.

Last Sunday, he enjoyed more fame on a break in Llangollen with actress wife Lesley.

He was, unusually, lost for words when a fan who called himself Tony went up to Mrs Butler's Eldest and said: "This is for all the pleasure you gave me listening to you."

He then handed BB £50 to 'donate to the charity of his choice.'

Tony, it seems, had had a 'bit of luck', but didn't want any recognition.

Lesley tells me she was deeply touched by the gesture to her hubby, adding: "We went to the Claire House Children's Hospice and handed over the money and they were delighted.

"How lovely is that ..."

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BREXIT is still up in the air, said yet another BBC analysis paralysis today as Parliament continues to turn Brexit into Blew It.

One thing is certain in UK politics - local and national - you can't paint our elected members with the same brush.

And it would be unfair to touch them with the same Brexit barge pole.

One man who had a reputation for politically-correct greatest quips was Mark Twain.

Many dispute that he said "politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason."

He would, certainly, have liked it because he did actually come up with the adage: "life is short ... never regret anything that makes you smile."

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And finally ...

I was very moved to read about the poignant Into the Light Lantern parade to mark two years since the devastating New Ferry explosion.

Yet, in a week when the Government announce the Hoylake Beacon Arts Village is getting £3.4m from the Coastal Communities Fund, I would have much preferred to see this headline: A New Ferry Phoenix Project Announced - Community to Rise from the Ashes with A £3.4 million injection.

It would have been real, long overdue and a much deserved life-changing progress.

Peter Grant