Thoughts turn to two old characters now long gone, one to a heart attack and one to throat cancer. Joe Davis was a very dapper and sprightly pensioner and Terry Seward was a cockney sparra – a very loveable rogue although they were both rogues in their own way. Joe conned his way into many functions introducing himself as Joe Davis, RN and he was hardly ever challenged. Joe and Terry went everywhere together – often on holiday and they even ran a pub together. I met them in Nottingham one day and asked them where they were going. “To get our money changed,” said Joe. “Oh where are you going?” I asked. “Scarborough” Joe replied. “You don’t need any money changed for a holiday in Scarborough” I responded. “You do the way we go on holiday!” was Terry’s reply. And that summed them up to a ‘T’ – always up to something and always an answer for everything. Real Last of the Summer Wine characters. One day they were stood at a bus stop. Joe had been being treated for cancer of the throat for a considerable time, with operations, radiotherapy and chemo. He turned to Terry and said, “I’ve got something to tell you, mate. The cancer has come back and I have refused further treatment. It’s terminal. ” Terry was devastated. “Fucking hell, Joe,” he said, I don’t know what I am going to do without you.” Quick as a flash Joe replied, “Well come with me then!” Sadly Joe did die and Terry did not last much longer – he was sixty seven and still working and sat in the bus station waiting for his bus to go to work reading his paper and just died. I have a number of Terry Seward tales which might get published on my blog – who knows?
Saturday morning and I am up earlyish after Irene reminds me it is the Welfare Charity AGM at 10.00pm. The club is currently losing £1000 a week and unless they devise a cunning plan we will lose it. I have a very cunning plan but will they let me in to implement it? I worked there for seven years before with a character called Dave Marriott who was an ex pit undermanager and as I was an ex-trades union official we were certainly the odd couple. Dave had a heart of gold but ran the club like Peter Kaye's Phoenix Nights and I couldn’t stand the waste any longer so I finished. Now the current manager is on notice but they haven’t advertised his job yet.
My curry night is still booked with Alan and Bill. I fear the worst but I am going.Keep pushing the boundaries!
