(for a friend back in 'Uni' days, 1999)

 

He was never a lad for hanging around piers,

The boards are too rough for black slacks and Beatle shoes.

An original Mod,

But one who chose to ignore pin ball.

 

Pints in the pub are plenty,

Games of pool,

Brown sauce, eels, mash and pies.

A Southend demeanour,

Smiling in the rye.

 

Business minded,

Divided by zero,

A quantity caricature,

Analysis in bounds.

‘Loads of money’,

Hundreds of pounds.

Huggy bear cuddles,

Especially if drunk,

With Ray Winstone charms.

 

A geezer,

A scholar,

Decent bloke,

The gaffer

Who’s sorted,

With a B&H choke.