We all deserve an encore from humorous performer

Nov 19 2007 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

BREAKING out of a retirement that would have put the late Ronnie Barker to shame, Liverpool’s one and only Peter Moloney will make a rare public speaking appearance which has already caused a scramble for seats.

Hailed as one of Britain’s greatest after-dinner speakers with his mixture of wit and wisdom, human observation and Christian spirituality, plus funny voices, he will appear this week in the Roscoe Citizenship free lecture series, lured out of his Liverpool 18 lair by the indefatigable Prof Lord Alton.

Sadly, I must report, Moloney’s lecture is already staggeringly over-subscribed with a waiting list that now tops 250 people, in spite of it being held on Wednesday lunchtime.

This is caused by the lack of a large enough auditorium available for all of Peter’s friends. St George’s Hall great hall is hosting another event, so Peter will be speaking on Liverpool: City of Friendship, Fellowship, Faith, Family & Football, in the Small Concert Room.

Although exquisitely formed, this bijou space only holds 400 persons, hence the clamour.

Those lucky enough to attend will once again savour Moloney’s trademark objective, which he says "is to convey a seriousness of purpose with a frivolity of approach. It’s the highest form of communication."

His claim that his specialisation in Saxo-Celtic Oral Uniate Spoken English (SCOUSE) was so convincing that an American linguistics professor visited him after hearing he was the definitive expert. "Academics can't distinguish between humour and non-humour. Everyone here constantly wound him up," says Peter.

"Coming from Liverpool, people expect you to be funny. Sometimes I am serious, but never solemn. Now I've retired, it's interesting to see how you're described in print. I particularly like being called an ‘ex-communicator’ which is very different from what I actually did. It's as if I can sell indulgences for those threatened with ejection from the church."

Having attracted some of the most impressive names on the international scene to Liverpool for the Roscoe Citizenship lectures, Lord Alton prides himself on never repeating any speakers, but surely as this is one of the city’s greatest living sons who still commands huge popularity, an exception can be made for a "second house"?

After all, how often do you get to listen to a man who’s been both a Paratrooper and a novice monk. A point which caused Ken Dodd to muse: "I wonder how many monasteries he’s jumped out of?"

Peter’s lecture is in the 11th annual series organised by Lord Alton, who is director of the Foundation for Citizenship, at Liverpool John Moores university. As the city girds itself for Capital of Culture, this 2007/8 series discusses its involvement in music, faith, arts and sports.

The series began with a full- house for Joe Riley, arts editor of our sister paper, the Echo, asking if Liverpool deserved to be Capital of Culture.

Future speakers include the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, sculptor Stephen Broadbent, designer George Davis, academic Prof Terry Eagleton, cultural guru Loyd Grossman, ex- Merseyside minister Lord Heseltine, writer Brian Jacques, broadcaster Peter Sissons, organist Prof Ian Tracey and sports commentator Clive Tyldesley.

"People are no longer brought up to listen to other points of view or to articulate their arguments in a civilised way," says Lord Alton. "The Roscoe public lecture series is where they can possibly hear diametrically opposed views to their own, in a way that is normalising for civic life."

All the more reason why, with the good-thinking citizens of Merseyside about to be crushed under the double whammy of Christmas and Capital of Culture, we desperately need a heavenly humorous uplift. So, please, Lord Alton, give Liverpool’s most famous former Para, novitiate, teacher and punster his second house for those 250 seatless lost souls and others reading this who would benefit from some Moloney magic. Just this once.

Meantime, those wishing to attend other future free Roscoe lectures should call Barbara Mace, Foundation manager, on 0151 231 3852 or e- mail B.Mace@ljmu.ac.uk. A list of forthcoming lectures is available by logging on to www.ljmu.ac.uk/citizen

peter.elson@dailypost.co.uk