 PHOTOGRAPHER Mike McCartney has been appointed cultural ambassador for Wirral. The younger brother of Sir Paul will spearhead a campaign to boost the borough's profile as well as bringing music and arts events to the area. As figurehead, Mr McCartney, whose work is currently being exhibited in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, will play a pivotal promotional role and help to steer the strategy. He says it's an opportunity that he relishes. He added: "It's a big honour but one that can be used to do a lot of good. "Culture should be for the masses. It should be amenable, not tied up in bows. "The most important part of this job is to get someone who is not interested in theatre, ballet or exhibitions because they don't feel it's for them, and help them find something they can identify with, whatever it is. "I'm just a lad from a working class family in Speke but I was interested in photography so I went to the library and learnt all about it. Now I have an exhibition in the Smithsonian Institute. "Anyone can do it, it's already been done. That's what we need to get across." The role has been created by the Local Strategic Part-nership, which is made up of public sector, the police and voluntary bodies and implements Wirral's Community Strategy. The cultural aspect covers art, sport, museums, libraries, thea-tres, history and heritage. The group will meet next month to put together a detailed plan of action. Mr McCartney, who recently turned 60, was chosen because of his long-standing career in the arts. He hit the spotlight in the 1960s as a member of The Scaffold when he was known as Mike McGea. The band had a number one single with Lily the Pink and he wrote, among others, their hit song Thank-U-Very-Much. His passion for photography started when he was a child after he was given a a ten shilling box camera as a Christmas present. But he is also known for his work as writer and poet, and has published a number of books. Mr McCartney's appointment was partly at the request of the Bishop of Birkenhead, Rt Rev David Urquhart, chairman of the partnership. He said: "Mike was approached by the partnership because of his commitment to music and the arts and to Merseyside. "He has a lot of contacts and is very enthusiastic about the work. "The LSP is a government initiative. It has a broad remit but the aim is to bring in community leaders to champion different themes." | 
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