Pete the Poet....

Pete is the Foreman on the Bulls Head development. He is also a well known poet and songwriter in Stoke on Trent. He has written songs for the rich and famous and many of his poems have been published. When he gets a break from the hard labour at The Bulls Head Repton, he records his thoughts in verse....

Week 1
The city of Repton is where I arrived on this very fateful day
A beautiful English village, I knew I would enjoy my stay.
Time had stood still in this sleepy place, a vision of the past
The Bulls Head pub my destination, ten weeks the job would last.
To me each contract is personal, and this one would be treated the same.
The new lessee I had arranged to meet, Richard Pope was the gentlemans name.
His handshake was firm, a smile on his face that is always a very good sign
Good food he said is my vision, yes good food and very fine wine.
His enthusiasm was there for all to see, his homework he had obviously done.
It was clear from the very first meeting there would be a welcome here for everyone.
Pete circa 2007 W.C.H.

Week 2
The work did start in earnest, the building standing proud
This quiet sleeping High Street would soon become so loud.
Fences up to keep strangers safe, the signs for all to see
No one was welcome behind our lines, just fellow workers and me.
It wasn't that we were unfriendly, the opposite in fact is the case
But time is now of the essence and time makes my job a race.
The plans were drawn by another, not one who works on my site
He doesn't allow for problems and that makes my schedule tight.
So off we go about our work,each man will know his task
If problems arise as they often do, it is I the workers will ask.
But seven days later the walls are all down and the steel is now in place
Ahead of time I don't know of that, this job is still a race.
Pete circa 2007 W.C.H.

Week 3
Week three begins with wintery showers, the cold wind with its cutting edge.
Traffic is all at a standstill, a child passes by with his sledge.
From our canteen drifts a welcoming smell, fresh coffee and toast on the go
Breakfast time soon comes around in our battle against the snow.
The work progresses nicely, Mr Pope amazed at its pace
Its good to hear our customers comments especially with a smile on their face.
Deb's our designer changing lines on the plans, she sees clearer when on the site
A little change here, a nip and tuck there, she knows that the budget is tight.
All working together is the name of this game, it makes it simpler and not such a slog
After all we are a part of the Bridgewater machine, each worker is simply a cog.
Pete circa 2007 W.C.H.

Week 6
The neighbours interest is begining to show as they stop and have a peek
They have watched from afar in silence before but now they choose to speak.
It is obvious to me and all of the lads that they are glad to see
money being spent on the building, putting it back as it used to be.
Not an eyesore anymore, not a burglars den, but an integral part of this place
where on a summers day or a wintery night there is sure to be a welcoming face.
With the garden at the back the children will be safe, let them go and play
Mum and Dad can sit and relax and just enjoy their day.
The food I am sure will be the very best, and the ales in a class of their own
and the weary traveller can come and rest, no need to be alone.
So the money spent by Mr Pope we all hope will soon return
and a reputation travelling afar, I am sure this pub will earn.
Pete circa 2007 W.C.H.

Week 7
For a few weeks now we have been trying our best
to avoid upsetting our robins nest.
Five eggs in total, in the boundary wall,
workers staying away when the mother does call.
Well on the 24th of April the babies did arrive,
"Boss" went out the shout, "the chicks are all alive".
Little beaks sticking out the babies want their food,
mother working day & night to cater for her brood.
"Stay away" was the order, let nature do its best,
we have done as much as we can do, God will do the rest.
So the job goes on as normal, the plasterers now on site,
Peter Shepherd and his lads working day and night.
More joiners arriving daily fitting doors and two new bars,
new drainage across the car park, little room for all our cars.
Now this is the time when I earn my corn, when the job I must control,
I am the only one who knows of the plans and sometimes it can take its toll.
But I have been here before so I know of all its problems and what it all entails,
and like I said to Mr Pope at the start, "The Poet Never Fails!"
Pete circa 2007 W.C.H.

Week 8
Jason is his name and drainage is his game, he can spot a blockage like no other man
All the way from Stoke a very obliging bloke, if its possible to cure it - he can.
Well thats enough of Jason, he asked me to write this so he could see his name on this site
A free bit of advertising, a smile on his face, show everyone in the pub on the night.
Jamie and Mickey laying floors in reclaimed oak, it is really a pleasure to see,
The Time Capsule arrives and Mr Pope is amazed as we're able to get it for free.
A table for two is the prize now, if you manage to get your thoughts in the box.
More joiners again are beavering away, fitting doorways and all of the locks.
The painters in full motion, like ants across the site,
Debbie checking details making sure that the colours are right.
Not so long to go now, the job moves up a gear,
The Poet keeping tabs on the programme, he knows the end is near.
Mr Pope is working hard behind the scenes, makeing sure he meets his end
I think after all we have been through, we can now call Richard our friend.
Pete circa 2007 W.C.H.

Week 9
Seven o'clock in the morning and the tarmac does arrive,
Our beautiful sleeping village is due to to come alive.
All roads blocked as machinery comes to town
today is the day that the black stuff is going down.
Everyone starting early it is now the pressure is on
It seems a bit sureal to think in two weeks we'll all be gone.
The sun has been kind in our weekly race of that we can't complain
with the scaffold gone and the rendering on the last thing we want is rain.
Kitchen equipment all over the site its a job to keep the place clean
but our labourers are here with buckets and mops and good old Mr Sheen.
The BBC are here today to speak to Richard and Pete
To ask about the capsule and when will the job be complete.
Just another day for the Poet and the lads, their pace is at its peak
I often wished that the Beatles were right when they sang of eight days a week.