PROUDLY hoist the American Stars and Stripes banner . For I’m informed, in a little ‘Whalley’s World exclusive’ sent to me by leading author-journalist Charles Nevin, that the history-making new President Barack Obama hails from St Helens.Well his ancestors did!

Obama has ties with the Stanleys (the Earls of Derby) and the noble Gerards whose stately home once dominated the scene in the Pewfall area of Ashton Cross.

“The warmth, the wit, the way with words and the generosity of spirit all become clear,” observes Charles, who says that Chris Coffey of Sutton, local historian, came across American research when tracing the President’s lineage back to the Eltonheads of Sutton.

Obama’s great (times eleven!) grandmother was one of five sisters sent to America to find a husband after the family’s fortunes were devastated by the English Civil War.

His ancient ties with the Stanleys and Gerards, says Charles, ” should earn him a free pint in the many delightful hostelries named after them in south-west Lancashire.”

The Irish have been very quick out of the traps with Barack’s shamrock roots -- O’Bama, as the joke goes!

Charles,with local origins but now living down south, has put the Obama findings in Lancashire Life.

He amusingly now adds: “I know the resourceful minds promoting my St Helens home town will be taking urgent action to ensure a presidential visit very soon.”

Remarkably, Eltonhead Hall still stands, says Charles, and the Platt family, living there, say they would be more than happy to give the President a nice cup of tea.

“Some rapid re-naming of local areas might also be a good idea --Blackbrook and Sutton Manor, for example, could easily become Barackbrook and Sutton Obama.”

Nor is the President alone. “There are also possible Eltonhead links with, wait for it --Brad Pitt!