THE LEGEND OF BILLY ARCHER

10-03-2008

Former Sandwell Mayor Bill Archer has just published his memoir “A Noggin Of Bread and Jam” which is available now from Wednesbury library.  The Stirrer’s poet laureate Brendan Hawthorne celebrates his life in rhyme....

Even owd Billy Archer wuz young once

I know it’s ‘ard ter believe

It’s one o’ them things yo think abarht

that’s difficult ter conceive

‘E wuz born in Portway Road yo know

where Irish settlers med their um

in days when money wuz tight

un the outlook fer werk wuz glum

These folk born of ‘ardship ‘n’ graft

warmed their one up ‘n’ one daerners

wi’ buckshee coal thrown over the fence

be Monways business climbers

Through new build thirties council estates

the young Billy gained social awareness

Played ahrt on noggins ‘o’ bread ‘n’ jam

‘n’ lived through community kindness

He wuz skeweled over on King’s ‘ill

Watched films at Earps Rialto

entertained at the penny rush

when he needed a plaerce to go

Then afore the ourbreak ‘o’ war

‘e moved ahrt onter the Friar Park

Got signed up ter th’ armed forces

‘n at Deale they conscripted ‘is mark

All fer a paernd a wik ‘e fired

Lee Enfields fer that Burma campaign

Got known as Bill the Brummy

with ‘is werking class dignity t’ retain

Then ‘e met is missus over Wedgbury Waerkes

got married when ‘e wuz nineteen

ter Freda the woman of ‘is dreams

while ‘e still served in the Royal Marines

After the war wuz done ‘n’ dusted

Bill took ter long distance lorry drivin

Sang songs on the variety circuit

fer success ‘e wuz always strivin’

Cud ‘o’ gorrin ter London’s media circus

but chose ‘is family instead

Decided ter gerrin ter politics

a shop steward in blue ‘n’ not red

Went inter local retail sellin’

spoke up at the market move

Supported local people

when they’d got sumthin’ ter prove

Got elected at the third attempt

stondin up fer ‘is birth right town

that lies ‘idden in the court of Sandwell

fought fer the plearce like one’ve ‘is own

‘Is  name wuz heard in press ‘n’ chamber

in livin’ rooms ‘n’ pubs

along with ‘is singin’ voice

in the Conservative ‘n’ Legion Clubs

A Democratic Socialist by nature

Servin’ fer many a year

Afore ‘e wuz gid the honour

of being a Metropolitan Mayor

An’ so ‘im an’ is young daughter Elaine

went on ter serve us folk well enough

Raisin’ record funds fer charities

wi’ walks ‘n’ auctions ‘n’ stuff

So the local legend of Billy Archer

continues to this day

An’ long may ‘e continue ter stond

never runnin’ ahrt ‘o’ things ter say!