cherie baby

A couple of occasions I was on Cherie duty stick out in my memory.
One was the day in 2004 that she was opening some annual function in Crosby and inducting her former primary school teacher, the late Denis Smerdon, into the Culture Company's Hall of Faith.
She then announced to the assembled gathering her fond memories of her first kiss.....with Mr Smerdon's son Stephen - under the railway bridge on the way to school when they were both seven.
The second was in June 2005 when she paid a visit to Lower Breck House in Tuebrook, a hostel run by family business Loango Estates.
All the residents, some it has to be said a little worse for wear, were lined up waiting for her in the sitting room and to her credit she spent time with each man, chatting to them all individually.
In fact, she charmed them.
So much so that when she was presented with flowers, and given a hug, by one resident he then launched into an impromptu version of 'Cherie baby'.
"That's the best thing I've heard since I was at the White House and Stevie Wonder sang My Cherie Amour" she said.
But the White House cuts no ice at Lower Breck House, and quick as a flash came the shout "name dropper".
I can't see Sarah Brown being quite as much fun to cover.