Local Culture
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Local Culture Kirkby
Jackson Nesbitt (Jacko)
Jacko is one of Liverpool's characters. Many Scousers will know him or
know of him. Jacko is one of the Street people who amuses and brightens up a dull
day. Jacko uses a cardboard cut-out of a banjo to busk with in Liverpool City Center
- you may have seen him dressed in a Father Christmas hat which compliments his beard.
He talks in an Irish Accent and is a great story teller. I've personally known Jacko
for a good few years now. I'd sooner donate money to people like him than to most
charities. He is from an era where we had many tramps and old blokes who stayed
on the streets, a lot of the younger generation of street people are drug casualties.
Jacko has always been polite to me and has NEVER asked me for money. He's a busker/street
entertainer and we the public have the choice of whether we pay him or not. The people
who annoy me are the stuck up Lib Dem Councillors and the likes of the devious Chief
Executive of Liverpool City Council - David Henshaw, who'd like to kick Jacko and
anyone else who doesn't 'look right' out of the City Center. We must make sure
that the City Centre is a place where the snobs are allowed to push the
working class culture out of the way; they've already tried to ban Big
Issue Sellers! Jacko is part of our culture in Liverpool. We ought to
pay him just to stand around the City Center.
We'll keep the Guinness flowing here
Born in Armagh on the 26th of June 1938, his proper name is Jackson Nesbitt. Jacko told
me that his family were originally Germans and Jewish and he has fond memories
of his grandmother who apparently led a singsong on a boat which was targeted by
torpedo. Jacko can recall with clarity many stories from his youth and as a young
man. It would be interesting to record his stories, and his songs which he
writes himself. Jacko sang a song he'd lined up to promote Guinness - to the
tune of 'we'll keep the red flag flying here' - changed to 'We'll keep the
Guinness flowing here" A Classic!
Jacko has been in Liverpool for some 25 years busking, and spent a total of
50 years in all entertaining the people with his brand of humour and amusement
for passers by. As I sat down with Jacko today (Fri Oct 14 2003) he was sat by
Queens Square, it was a rainy day with a fair old breeze. Jacko's shoes were falling
apart, so if any readers are in Liverpool City Centre - Jacko takes a size 9 - A
good few people stopped to say hello - and a bloke stopped to take a photo.
Apparently Jacko is a good photo opportunity for tourists and passers by - but
I would say that if anyone does photograph him then paying him a couple of quid
would be a nice gesture. I paid him a couple of quid for the photos I took -
but would have donated it regardless. This is the first time I've had my camera
when Jacko has been around so I was glad of the opportunity to capture one of
Liverpool's legends.
Below - the view from the street - this is what the audience looks like for a busker
Jacko or Jackson Nesbitt can be contacted at his headquarters around Queens Square
and surrounding streets. You may spot the cut out banjo, his beard and perhaps a
Father Christmas hat. You can donate by cash only - no cheques or credit cards
please! If you don't wish to donate cash then you have the option of buying food
or non alcoholic beverages from Sayers, Gregg's etc. Ask him beforehand - he may
have eaten already.
Jacko takes a size 9 shoes - as of 14th Oct 2003 the need for new shoes is vital
- if your there - and you care - catch him on his rounds and drop off the shoes. A
warm waterproof coat would be also be appreciated - water proof trousers would be
a help now the Winters here. Do what you can - lets look after people like Jacko -
he is a pleasant enough bloke and deserves a break.
That little spot where Jacko was sat could well be reserved for you or me. For
this reason it's wise to treat people at the lowest end of society with dignity.
Most of us know this and we try to be kind to those who have hit on hard times
or those who choose to live on the streets because it's the only place they know.
As we approach Christmas - try to be good to people worse off - and never forget
that it's the poor like me and you who dig deepest in our pockets. I gave Jacko
£3.00 - that represents about 3% of my total weekly income at this financially
challenged period of my life - now look at some of the high earning Middle Class
pen-pushers invading Liverpool - some of them earn £600 at least per week - and
for them to donate the equivalent percentage I gave, would add up to giving about
a £15 donation. Funnily enough - it's the very same highly paid pen pushers who
walk on by! - The middle classes and snobs NEVER throw a few quid to a tramp
- and many tramps and street people have told me this. The people donating are
the Working Class as a rule. This makes me proud to be Working Class - yet
I see the stupidity of our Class in allowing the rich to rob us as they
do. Charity is often the poor donating to the poor!
Anyway - if you see Jacko in town - tell him he's famous on the Internet
now! - If any rich people want to donate a top pair of shoes to him -
get in touch with Kirkby Times.
Kirkby Job Center and the fiddle
If you ever see me busking in town - don't tell Kirkby Job Center I'm on
the fiddle - I'm actually playing a guitar! - get it? -
Good luck if you need it. Give generously!
And take generously -off the rich of course!
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