Great and the good

Jul 8 2008 Mr Brocklebank, Liverpool Daily Post

MR BROCKLEBANK flushed with pride at the University of Liverpool’s centenary graduand dinner at St George’s Hall, packed with the great, the good and Elvis Costello.

Nothing has proved Liverpool’s enduring quality better than the city’s further education with the university now officially ranked as the 101st out of 5,000 worldwide.

But wait, Lord Owen and the Derbys were there, but where was former great leader Cllr Storey?

Or dear leader Cllr Bradley?

Or Colin Hilton and his mum (usually such a brick at these occasions)? Presumably they were all busy.

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MR BROCKLEBANK was so proud of Liverpool holding the first ever official memorial service commemorating the sinking of SS Arandora Star with the loss of 800 Italian, German and Austrian internees plus British crew, in 1940, held at St Nicholas Parish Church, which meant so much to the families involved.

As Rev Steven Brookes, Rector of Liverpool, said: “It could only have been done here.”

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THE Consumers Association Which? airline report names Liverpool carrier easyJet as one of the best airlines, but FlyGlobeSpan, which ran a short-lived New York service (via Knock, Ireland) as allegedly one of the worst.

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LJLA managing director Neil Pakey reveals his own wackiest airline transfer was at Knock when a hearse arrived.

“The taxi driver also ran a funeral service, but his cab was unavailable,” said Mr Pakey, who luckily didn’t have to repose in the back.

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MY QUEEN and I.

An etiquette lesson exclusively revealed by Lord Mayor Steve Rotheram on the occasion of meeting Her Majesty at St George’s Hall.

QEII: “How have the preparations gone, Lord Mayor?”

LMR: “Very easy, Ma’am. You see, I’m used to calling me mum ‘Mam’ at home, so it’s no problem remembering what to call you. Anyway, I expect travelling around you must think all the country smells of new paint.”

Pause for Royal Prerogative of laughter to be tinkled (LMR thought bubble: “I think she liked that one”).

QEII: (exercising regal eye twinkle): “So you’re the youngest and most inexperienced mayor in the country?”

LMR: “With respect, Ma’am, you were only 24 on acceding to the throne, and you’ve not done a bad job.”

Cue QEII fixed smile; knighthood possibly not in post.

Mr Brocklebank declares: “God bless me mam, no sorry, God bless you, Ma’am!”

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FANCY that: retiring Liverpool University vice chancellor Prof Sir Drummond Bone, on chairing Liverpool’s big year: “Some of us were involved in organising Capital of Culture year.

“Some of us have lost several years of our life over that.”