Local Legend

A lunch with G, who then gave me a guided tour of Barnsley town centre. I haven’t been here in almost 30 years. There’s been a lot of change.

Local sculptor Graham Ibbeson has a number of statues positioned in various places around the centre. This one is of local legend “Dickie” Bird, cricket umpire. He apparently suggested a statue of himself, was at its unveiling (by the king) , and then when he got his OBE and honorary degree paid for those to be added to his inscription. In the extra, another statue, outside the National Union of Mineworkers HQ, this one unveiled by Arthur Scargill.

This evening, a concert at the Birdwell Venue, featuring Martin Simpson. I’ve several of his records, but the last time I saw him live was over 40 years ago at a folk club at an Inn in Beverley. He’s still fantastic. The second song he sang was “deportees” by Woody Guthrie, written in the 1940’s - but as relevant in 2024. Curious fact - in 1954 Guthrie wrote a song, “Old Man Trump”, about his appalling slum landlord, and which he never recorded.