Checker Berry was his name

from a family of boxers,

and crime was his game.

 

We met in a boozer in Drury Lane

in my break from the show.

He touted tickets for west end theatres

 

ducking and diving hereabouts

he often got his collar felt

'cause he was a face.

 

Still had his contacts, his pitch and place

staunch and true to the east end code

would lend at exorbitant rates.

 

Provide a weapon for mates, he might

you'd have to pay him back

or risk a slap or worse.

 

Always bought me a drink

'cause he liked musicians I think.

He told me that he'd known a dwarf

 

who pushed his luck

so on the floor he went, bosh

he chuckled as if it was a game

 

Apart from that his chat could not be

easily understood,

no reading or writing to his credit

 

non negotiable man.

He used to drive for Ronnie

He said the Krays spent all the money

 

they ever made, and that was plenty.

what with paying off the favours,

like water the good things wash away

 

with time and tide

and their glamour was all about who they knew

shame really when you think.

 

In the end they just went down

although they kicked up a stink

shame really, and Checker survived

 

in the world outside.

He died in his eighties

a footnote made

in the east end advertiser

next to check -a-trade.