The unsung hero

Hi Everybody here is a painting and story about a good friend of mine Anthony Agar. he suffered stress and racism and it affected his life in many ways, he lost touch with his children and I just hope his children can understand what he went through. 

Anthony would like to reach out to his children and give his side of the story. So if Anthony’s children are reading or viewing this feel free to get in touch with me. Andrew Alan Matthews and I can put you in touch with Anthony.  So here is my short video and painting of an unsung hero. Anthony Agar he was there for me in my darkest hour.  

The unsung Hero He aint no zero Yeah he was a soldier A good friend of mine  Served in the falklands  A married man  With kids he loved  Got pushed and shoved  on the front line   Yeah Served the police  For many a year  put up with racism  All the time  It’s a crime   He was stressed out  Had PTSD Not LSD   Yeah The unsung hero  He aint no zero On the front line  Fightin crime All of the time  On the day I faced hell  He knocked on me door   A guardian angel  came through the door  In police uniform  Guides me to safety  And calms me down a dark hour of me life gave back me life  Yeah the unsung hero He aint no zero   And What I didn’t know  He came from  A gas filled house  fighting a crazed  knife wielding man With a lighter in hand   Ant made a stand  With a slight of hand  Took him  out one clout Then came straight to me  And saved the day   Yeah the unsung hero  He aint no zero   sacrificed more than I know he suffered stress  Beyond belief  But I’ll be brief  You’ve now moved on  With a new love of your life  You’ve got a new life   So when lockdowns lifted Well share a curry night   and you know  itl be alright  on a summers night   well raise a few pints  look to the future  and I’ll say to you   you’re the unsung hero  you aint no zero 

Danny Wrights Barbers  Button Lane  Northern Moor  You know the score   Top haircuts  And top prices  By a master barber  hes the best  Better than the rest   He doesn’t rest   Yeah  Magician on a mission   To cut hair in the chair   With Magic hands  He’ll snip and a clip   style your hair  with flair   Yeah  Danny wrights Barbers  Button Lane  Northern Moor  You know the score   Top haircuts  With a top conversation   Putting the world to rights With no fights   Yeah Danny Wright  master barber   Hes a magician   On a mission  

https://youtu.be/L5Uqpsuknvk

This is me Mum and Dad im glad  They brought me up to respect Don’t Expect nothing in return   So this is me mum  she looks glum  But shes no bum She tries her best  Wears her heart on her vest She gets out and about Looked after me Dad Shes not bad  Shes caring and sometimes likes sharing A story or two That will take a week or two To work out what shes saying I keep prayin She will talk more sense Shes intense  No common sense  But shes me mum  She may look glum   But when she smiles It begiles Makes me laugh , it’s a gaff ,  daft ways, Her ways  Shes a crafter and dancer   And does lots of puzzles  And keeps you out of troubles you may be puzzled Cos her talk is all muddled   But give her respect She doesn’t expect  and give her a chance  Cos at first glance  She may be off stance   get to know her  And she’l show yer  A kindness from the heart  That doesnt fall apart And If you allow her in yer heart Im sure you’l start      to like her  Funny little ways   Shes been there for me  In times of need And indeed my sister too And its true Shes looked after the grand kids  Emily, Charmaine, Thomas and Daniel  Shes got a heart of gold  And although shes old Shes as fit as a fiddle And talks in riddles I love her funny little ways these days  So just to say   I love you mum  keep being you through  and through its true  So this is me Dad  hes not all bad He was a grandad and great grandad had ups and downs With very little frowns  And When he was 11  He saved a man drowin in the sea   Hes given love and laughter  And hes been a grafter He was a printer and sign writer A journalist and joker  60 a day smoker His dad was a stoker He was an raf gunner and runner  A swimmer and diver also a driver A trade union rep Yep A welder he can tell ya  from the bilges of a ship  to the Sydney opera house an ice cream man in a self built van  A busman, conductor,  A driver, never a two timer Hes played chess with the best on a ship in cyprus And played pool  hes so cool  He passed out in a saferoom  and got pensioned off He loved that job on the buses  And everyone he met  remembers his fun and laughter And yeah he was a grafter  Hes had falls And got some balls And bounced back  And made people laugh   He was in a care home for years Shed a few tears Had dementia  And he could tell ya  A thing or two And Its true  He was my guiding star And when his light went out  I just had to shout  We shared the good times and the bad your light shone through the darkness with fun and laughter  And you looked on the bright side of life It Saw you through life  through trouble and strife  And ive just got to say  When I was a kid  I sat on your knee You pointed at the stars in the sky My first memory of you  And at the end of your days We sat on the garden bench  In the care home You and I pointed at the stars in the sky  And said  which star shall we choose next A treasured memory of you  its true and Now that your gone  Your not forgotten  your in my heart and mind your on my right hand now as a gold ring  A part of you  And its true Your my right hand man A ring like a galaxy of stars Reminds me of you  So when I sit in the garden at night  And look at the stars in heaven  I will think of you and look on the bright side of life and have a life  so heres to you  in peace and the afterlife oh and by the way   you and I did it our way with love everyday 

https://youtu.be/WaWtRlk1O5A

This is Rick Cowie me mate In the prime of his life on his wedding day  Allisons a nurse and rick was a soldier  A healer and a fighter, Make a lovely couple  Has two kids Morgan and Amelia   Now rick hes no dick and hes not thick He Had hair back then and then Hes a funny man does all he can  To make you laugh   Everythins a gaff  Rick Cowie a cheeky man does all he can To help you through with laughter in your ears   And Through the years we had fun and laughter  And yeah hes a grafter  so I will tell you a story or two of this funny man does all he can to help you through lifes ups and downs with jokes galore and lots more in store met him at Claremont Road Junior school  Hes no fool, We used to lark about after school Yew tree high came next and we wasn’t vexed  Scivin and tryin to keep out of trouble in our little bubble, with baggy trousers and a one step beyond,  with madness in our ears there was no tears.  In Moss Side we used to play for hours in showers  From dawn till dusk         it was a must The Moss side carnival happened every year  lots of beer.  people selling there gear There was riots a brewing and im not screwin Stealin and Thievin the moss was a breathin    fire bright, the cars a light. Shootin, and lootin and rickys dad fendin off the thugs with a baseball bat to defend his truck an upstanding man did all he can there was also Fun at Maine road, we weren’t old Crowds a buzzin no fussin  and lots of cussin Runnin down tunnels, getin into troubles kippax end was with a friend. And I wont bend   and boy did it pound to the city beat on the street feel the heat from the people on the street in the 70s and eighties they were the latest and greatest. Like the Eye of the tiger, thrill of the fight. And what a sight.  We Played on the streets, race and chase with bikes, had lots of likes. commando grass, street football, kerby, keepy upy. Kick can, Knock and run      it was lots of fun,  Mind yer car mr  And boy did we miss ye The mind yer car money  We spent it on honey, sweets and treats  space invader crisps, smack on the lips we played tricks  jublies, bubblies, bangers, the lot, youve forgot  we had black jacks, cola cubes, spangles the lot football cards you flicked at the wall what a ball fireworks, screamers, bangers galore  and much more,  you know the score we made dens with friends air raid shelters, they were belters, old derelict houses     wore holy trousers what howlers, talkin shoes      no booze.  jubleys were dew and we shared a few  god help you     if you were last in the cue  Lived off fresh air back then      and then  Dirt on our faces, we went places with ought traces  cobbled alleyways with rubbish piled high  clambering high to the sky  we found porno mags amongst the rags tried a few fags        had a few gags no mobile phones, and “don’t be late”, your mum shouted at the gate, “back at ten” and then,   from the telephone box on the street, you phone home from the piss smelling phone, a cut wire it’s a live wire  it was enlightenin, not frightenin the things that we did when you were a kid made wooden bogies, ours was called the tank with a battering ram in front took a test drive    ricky pulled the brakes  into a new car, battering ram imbedded in it   we legged it. ricky a fun lovin guy , hes a joker Just wants to lark about Shoutin hammer hammer  and he doesn’t stammer  Creases you up with laughter when hes around  cos hes sound as a pound  used to ride our pushbikes to reddish vale and tatton park to get some fresh air and see some greenery  from the good old moss it was boss went scrumpin for apples, farmers shot gun ringin in our ears, shoutin get orf me land we made a stand laughin our heads off and larkin about  Broadfield baths roof,  got up to mischief  Just kids larkin about havin fun in the moss cos it was boss   got into a fight one night     An Asian lad pulled a knife on me  Tried to stab me  Ricky pulled me away And saved the day  grew up          went to the Claremont pub  a bully,        flashed a knife behind me back he was gonna attack. But Yet again Rick did it again  Saved the day Pulled me away        and to this day  I can say hes a fine upstanding man theres more I can say  worked in the Claremont pub  Drinks in store, women and more. We got motorbikes and rode for hours In showers Then You worked at chemical drums, comical bums,  Workin with the drums, with some bums.  then Rick worked in a factory, grindin tool in hand Slipped into his crotch and ripped his jeans It was dark at night in his Vauxhall viva walked up to rick       I said he was a dick A cheeky grin and a flash of a light  Showed me his crutch in the torchlight What a sight                 It gave me a fright I call rick bollocks from that day to this  And I wont miss    his bollocks shinin in the light  What a sight    scarred me for life  Went on holiday to the lake district On the train, hiked for a while A sports car pulled up to give us a lift We thought it was a gift When the driver said I am an amateur rally driver He shot down the road, Flyin round the corner  A yellow mini appeared, Swerved to avoid a collision  And he was on a mission withought me permission Went up an embankment,  Hit a wall   Landed in a ditch        the driver was a bitch Cos he started cryin Sayin his mums gonna kill him,      Me and rick were just chillin    Said cheers for the lift And walked to the pub  Laughin and gaffin the day was a crackin We got drunk in the pub And on the way back  Took a push bike, Ridin down the road in the dark It was a lark, flashlight a bobbin The front wheel buckled and tossed us off. rickys balls were a throbbin But we weren’t sobbin . havin a laugh it was a gaff  walked through a field we heard a rumbling  flashlight saw a bull bearing down on me and rick    we felt sick. Jumped over a wall it was a ball fell asleep in a tent     woke up to a freezing face, toothpaste all over me face      rick the dick had been larkin about but I wont shout cos hes a funny man  does all he can to make you laugh     lots of nights out with this funny man  in Manchester drunk one night  two birds were eatin pizza on me back as Im flat on my back    ricky said can I have me friend back    now rickys all grown up and lives in Sheffield hes been a soldier, a tri trade man in the army he must have been barmy in the army, served in Bosnia a bomb disposal man a gunner a runner a driver  never a two timer. Then a prison officer and got bundled over and got pensioned off hes not soft now hes a self employed man a plumber hes no bummer got his head up an old boiler and I can tell ya a hard workin man a family man a grafter and hes full of laughter hes my best mate     alongside Mark me mate and hes never late  so state for the record  im proud to know him    and call him a mate and it was my fate to meet this mate so that’s settled the score I will knock at your door  For more fun and laughter With a man Called rick  And hes no dick I just call him bollocks Cos hes got some bollocks     A fine upstanding man    a mancunian at heart       and we wont part. 

https://youtu.be/HkeSQsxoPlA

This is Tom Callaghan  The next door neighbour Hes the man that Lives in hollyhey drive Lived here all his life Went to Rackhouse junior school Hes no fool  Went to yew tree high school Back in the day  had fun and laughter  Muckin about  he was no lout  then Worked for nettle accessories  On harper road sharston Employed as Electrician He was on a mission  To be the best  And he didn’t rest  worked on Welding machines a maintenance man for the man who can  left for the army in 1955 must have been barmy  in the army  made it in the  corps of Royal electrical mechanical engineers Lets say cheers  To this kind hearted man  Does all he can  Went to singapour hes no bore  Came back to England  Northern moor Married his wife wendy  Shes trendy A lovely woman  The love of his life  Then Worked for nettle accessories Yet again  he did it again Worked hard to be the best and he didn’t rest  got Took over  by DELTA MEM worked hard  got promoted to charge hand had a band of men  workin under him   He was a fixer  A Problem solver  A hard workin man  A family man  Had two kids Had fun in the sun And hes no bum  Had drinks in the cringlewood club  Bowls and goals  Friends galore and more  Retired in 2000  twidled his thumbs for a while  took up gardenin loves his flowers and plants hes not pants  took up art  hes smart goes to art classes  at paint pots art group there a troop of  art soldiers on a mission to paint pleasing pictures and help relieve stress its no mess I confess No more stress He loves the art classes  And people too Its tickety boo lovely people surround you  still rides a push bike  at his old age  plods the streets  does meets and greets  so this its tom Callaghan a nice old man  he will do all he can  to help you through  armed to the teeth  with flowers and art  he wont fall apart  so make a start to talk to this man  cos hes a nice old man  who does all he can for the people he meets what a treat   hes the man  a 

peacekeeper with a pacemaker with a big heart and that’s for a start 

https://youtu.be/t4NJ7pUx88Y

It’s the Lil show Showcasing across the land  Yes lil me sister in law Shes no bore  You know the score   Lil a lively bubbly woman A firecracker of a woman Shes in yer face Hairs All over the place  Lifes her showcase   Makes a dramatic entrance  Whenever we meet  It’s a treat  Life at full beat   The people she meets They’ve All got to say  Its all about me  And lil will agree That she takes centre stage   Yes it’s the lil show  Shes on show she takes life in her stride So don’t take her for a ride  Shes no lilo lil Shes brill Its pure skill  she goes in for the kill  Yeah Shes bright  used to have a light or two  Yeah Fag ash lil  Shes brill You know what they say  Shes got her feet on the ground  Shes sound as a pound Yeah lil shes clever  And never forget it   Shes kind and caring  And likes sharin  A story or two  that keeps you laughin  gives good advise  so think twice  She used to go out with a best friend  In Northenden, withington and Didsbury  Its history Not a mystery Liked a drink or two  And Shes on cue  To take the piss And Don’t you miss Getting up to mischief  It’s a relief  Theres no grief  When shes around  Shes sound as a pound  So if you get to know her  She l show yer fun and laughter and yeah shes a grafter   lil a lively bubbly woman  a fire cracker of a woman says  can you see me nips  and shakes her hips with a smack on the lips   shes had ups and downs some frowns with clowns got two kids  now a grandma   you wouldn’t of thought it and yeah shes bought it designer gear  every year  don’t sneer  shes a lovely woman at heart  so make a start  to embrace this woman   so lil don’t change your ways your lifes a maze of fun and laughter   yeah your like scary spice  with your wild hair  stop and look and stare with a modern view on life your no trouble and strife you’ve got a life  so ive painted a picture of you a sassy lady  on a stary night in northern moor with drinks at your door a tribute to you   and a wink to van gogh  so don’t scoff your top you rock     so lil don’t change your ways your lifes a haze  life at full beat  no retreat  so this is the lil show  shes on show  come on  lets go  

https://youtu.be/rh5z_Xp58Yg

This is Dave ,hes no slave Yeah Dave Jones me Uncle  Hes not the man from uncle Likes simon and garfunkle But hes a hard workin man  Hes a welder, fabricator a sheet metal worker And boy can he tell ya   A thing or too  Cos He likes his sayings And boy am I prayin He gives me knowledge  And he likes his porridge   He used to fix cars in his garage Sprayin cars for stars  Liftin engines, fixin engines,  Changin wheels  he doesn’t where heels  He gives his time doesn’t look for a dime For people in need  hes no greed Theres fun and laughter  Cos hes a grafter Hes not dafter than you think  And he don’t stink   helps the vulnerable people in trouble and hes got some stubble Hes a fixer and trixter  and boy do they miss ye helpful ways theres much more I can say  He works hard in his yard For simply cycling Its exciting  The things that he does  Fixin bikes and trikes He gets lots of likes  doesn’t  fuss and cuss helps the community   got recognition by the queen and got invited  To the queens lawn party  Shes not tarty Got an award  Cos hes on board  With simply cycling  Hes got a voice and a choice  And In my opinion Hes never been beaten he was my Dads best mate  and hes never late   married Ivy  had two kids they looked after me gran  I was her biggest fan Hes the man Does all he can for people in need   Hes on fire  With fun and laughter And yeah hes a grafter Hes no greedy man Looked after me nan  He goes to the cringlewood club It’s a good pub They even serve grub So don’t snub This man He will melt you and smelt you Into something new So don’t stew  Have a brew  haven’t a clue What this man can do for you So stop and think  have a drink  With this man that thinks  And now that im through Its true That’s settled the score  Ill knock at your door For more Wise sayings              just sayin     im prayin for wise words from a wise man,  so don’t take him for a ride man 

https://youtu.be/2wfTbCdj_8M

This is Tom the father in law Hes no outlaw Hes an upstanding man  A family man  Hes a grandad   a great grandad  Hes not bad  Hes galswegian Standing Tall and proud Stands up for the family Do anything for anybody He makes you proud And hes not loud   Hes bright and used to have a light Yeah he was a smoker  a joker A hard working man  A plasterer by trade  A drinker  A thinker   He knows a thing or two So don’t be fooled  He comes all tooled  with a mind of knowledge  and he likes his porridge  he used to live in Cornwall street, Kinning park when it was dark he grew up near a park  with tenements old and stark an old timer  well heres a reminder of what it was like   Glasgow, Kinning park You used to play after dark On the streets you did feats  And had very few treats  In these old streets  You had retreats   You had meets and greets  Glasgow the twang in your voice  Just rejoice the people you met  You don’t regret  So don’t forget You have a choice  you have a voice  so this glaswegian boy  had joy in Glasgow and boy did it snow the wind did it blow and rain did it go to the sound of that Glaswegian twang   where your ma and pa  hung out the washin whilst you were scoffin a fried mars bar  or a haggis with toppin iron brew and things you can chew Cornwall street in Glasgow There was pubs galore  And lots more in store A buzzin street Just below your feet And what a treat  You had old cinemas And very few cars  A few scars   Glasgow docks was a stones throw away  And while you were away they changed the lot  But you’ve not forgot  That you played for hours   In showers   So a reminder of those days  Cos back then it was a haze But Just be amazed at the things you did  when you were a kid   You moved to Darwen   And other places you’ve bin And settled in Lawton moor, northern moor And theres more  You met lil  the love of your life  she was no trouble and strife you both had a life you had some fun in the sun and I know your no bum  a hard workin man a family man a grandad a great grandad  your not bad now lils passed away  and all I can say is you’re a fine upstanding man  theres much more I can say but you stay I pray  That you lead the way  in a good way although your at home alone your not alone, Theres a phone  give the dog a bone. im home  you’re the man who does all he can cos you’re a Glaswegian an upstanding man your all good man   So that’s settled the score  I ll knock at your door And leave you a plate  Don’t hesitate Its not too late To be a mate Your family loves you  So heres to you An upstanding man  A Glaswegian 

https://youtu.be/-mybc2hWJec

This is Big SI  Hes a big guy    6 foot 4  hes no bore  I can tell you more has a passion for music and singin  and hes bringin       love to your hearts so don’t fall apart in lockdown cos hes wearin a crown     a barbershop a capella  and I can tell ya      singin is his passion  In the collective         a virtual choir  Inspires people in lockdown So don’t get down  Yeah Hes the director of tuxedo junction   A mens barbershop acapella  And I can tell ya      he sings from the heart  Full of love     a passion for music  A keen cyclist too  Bakes good bread     loves a good whisky too Married to kat     has four kids  So with his family beside him  Through good times and bad  He will make it through  Hes an inspiration to many  A lockdown lifeline  And Yeah      He wrote a song Its not the end  Ive heard it  Love from the heart  A special song for fathers day  in memory of his dad  So don’t be sad im glad   Yeah Big SI  Hes a big guy  6 foot 4  Hes no bore  I can tell ya more  But Lets leave it there the big man in a chair  Stop and look and stare at the love he brings  As he sings,      an acapella man  Music is his passion      Its all the fashion so I’ll raise a glass of whisky to you  to Big SI   a good guy its not the end   be a close friend 

https://youtu.be/GYxMSx5OuZQ

This is Pete the brother in law Hes no outlaw  Hes a kind man An upstanding man A family man Does all he can To help you through The good times and the bad Hes not mad  And hes not sad  One of 7 kids  Hes got two kids Now a grandad  And a dad  Brought up in the moss The bull rings in the moss It wasn’t boss  From rags to riches  started out fixing cars  In old air raid shelters  They were belters  He was on a mission  To get things started  Yeah fixin cars  Weldin em Makin money from scratch Hes never been a shirker  Of hard graft And hes not daft  Fixin engines  And Wheels  He doesn’t wear heels he made it on the scene  with hard graft hes not daft  had a garage in sale  can tell a tale or two for you made it as a garage owner  doin mots  on his knees  fixin engines and cars for stars back breakin work hard work  freezin hands  he always made a stand never missed a trick  and hes not thick  Had arguments with his Partner in business Who took advantage  Of his kindness So Pete left him to it And you know pete  You can do it And make it on your own You’re a hard workin man A family man  A man of kindness And don’t you forget it   You’re a fine upstanding man And everyone knows  You’re a man with a big heart And that’s for a start  

https://youtu.be/mdPymiLFNB0

This is Ennie and Steve On A little French Retreat  There British and Spanish They didn’t vanish   there living in France  Its not pants  On a day trip to Bordeaux The wine capital of France   A football game awaits  Yeah Spanish fans Surround the place  Cheerin  And getting the beer in   Wines a flowin  On a summers day in France  Near the nouveau stade de Bordeaux Come on lets go   Enjoyed your visit  With fans all dressed up  Funny wigs  Men dressed in flamenco dresses   No more stresses   Then before  and after the game   Have a wine or two Soak in the view   Have a bite or two  In a restaurant   And Reminisce of the good old days  In the Moss  Cos it was boss  Yeah Friends and family  Surround you  In your jeet  What a treat   Wining and dining  to a British  and Spanish beat   In your little French retreat     

https://youtu.be/4uYO33ykhWU