JUST SOME OF THE FORMER RESIDENTS OF CROSBY AND REGION

HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II

Bob McKay, a former organist and choirmaster maintains that he sheltered Karol Wojtyla, now the Pope, on Brooke Road East, Waterloo during the Second World War.

Apparently His Holiness escaped from the German occupation of Poland whilst studying for the priesthood and stayed for some time with the McKay family.

Mr McKay recalls His Holiness being very polite and friendly and says that although for political reasons the Pope never acknowledges his time in England a reunion was held during his visit to Liverpool in 1982.

A Vatican spokesman has recently denied the rumour that the Pope's favourite English words, "Peace be with you" had first been spoken in the Raven on a Friday night, but said there was some truth in His Holiness being a Liverpool fan after being disgusted with claims from Evertonians that Bob Latchford could walk on water.

ROBERT RUNCIE FORMER ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

Mr Runcie held the post of Archbishop of Canterbury, the highest position in the Anglican Church bar the Queen, between 1980 and 1991.

He was born and brought up in Crosby, attending Merchant Taylors' School and is generally acknowledged to have led the church wisely through a difficult period.

Publicity focused on Crosby briefly in the 1990's amid the tabloid scandal that Mr Runcie had an ex girlfriend living on Cambridge Road. The media frenzy died down when the lady in question said that he was a nice well-mannered man and that although they had held hands in a passionate moment she hadn't seen him since his 16th birthday.

Mr Runcie has never confirmed or denied the rumour that his conversion to Protestantism followed a particularly nasty tackle by Karol Wojtyla (see above) in a Merchants Old Boys vs Army XI football match.