Wednesday, April 15, 2015

BRIGG ALERT FOR THE BOYS FROM THE BLACK STUFF


What's that old nautical saying about not spoiling the ship for a ha'p'th of tar? Can it be applied to Brigg Market Place and Wrawby Street? 
It's to be hoped that after the work of the Boys From the Black Stuff (pictured here)  someone in authority is going to ensure the stone paving is extended to cover these two areas which are not in keeping with the Brigg Conservation Area and nearby listed buildings.
For the benefit of younger Blog followers, Boys from the Blackstuff was an award-winning 1982 TV drama series created by Alan Bleasdale in which Bernard Hill gave a very moving performance as Tarmac-laying Scouser "Yosser" Hughes, whose life was wrecked by unemployment. His catchphrase "Gizza job" stuck around for years.




3 comments:

Ken Harrison said...

Hopefully the tarmac infill is temporary. I understand that the contractors mislaid/lost a number of paving blocks after they were originally lifted.
How?
In the meantime, there is a search for suitable replacement blocks.........and the re-laying of the block paving in other areas of the Market Place seems to have gained favourable comments...

Ken Harrison said...

ps ..I think Julie Walters was also in the series, Nige....
The Boys from the Black Stuff seemed to be at an end of an era when Liverpool, as a setting, featured in a number of TV series.
One of such, was 'Z-Cars' from the early '60's - featuring Brian Blessed - which was based on 'Newtown' - reportedly an overspill estate of Liverpool. It replaced 'Dixon of Dock Green' as the main police series on tv...
Everton FC still use the Z-Car theme tune at their games at Goodison.
During my formative years, we called Liverpool policemen, 'Scuffers' - for the alleged scuffing of ears.
When, as lads, we were doing something dubious, we always appointed a 'Dickie' some to keep watch (to decko' for any approaching scuffer.... Sometime there false alarms and we would scarper in all directions...only to reassemble to undertake our dubious activities. It was said that to be a successful street kid that one had to be a comedian, or a fast runner!!
It's worth remembering that in those days, one could be taken to court for not having a bell on one's bike, or for playing footie in the street.....relatively very grevious crimes in the 50's!!
Good Evenin', all.'

Ken Harrison said...

.....on reflection, perhaps chippings, rather than tarmac, outside Scalini's would be better...