Ken's pronunciation and Ironfoot Jack by Julian Davies

Previously published in Ken Colyer Trust Newsletter of September 1993

I feel that I must put my oar in on the subject of Ken's pronunciation. In my opinion the reason for Ken's unusual pronunciation was that, while not being a great conversationalist, he was well read and thus possessed a wide vocabulary but had little practice in its use vocally. Added to which he left school at fourteen and thus did not enjoy the advantages which sometimes result from a longer stay in education.

I well remember the first time he used the word 'acowsticks'. We were rehearsing in a field on the banks of the Crane River and he and Bill were discussing the differences between the 'acowsticks' indoors and outdoors. I looked carefully around the field for these mysterious 'acowsticks' and wondering if he meant the fence. I never attempted to correct his pronunciation because I did not want to hurt his feelings, perhaps I should have done.

Because he himself left school at fourteen and because he knew that I had just left school when I joined the Cranes, he thought that I was only fourteen at the time. It was not until some twenty-five years later that I discovered this. We were returning from a gig in Swindon or thereabouts and during our conversation I mentioned Ironfoot Jack. He was amazed that I knew him because he thought that Jack was before my time.

Once I knew about his mistake about my age a lot of things became clear, for example - why it was that I was not invited to some of the wild parties that he and the rest of the band attended in the early days and why it was that whenever my mother made her occasional visits to the Crane River Club at Cranford, Bill would engage her in conversation while Ken hid my pint of beer.

My mother had early on charged Bill with the responsibility of looking after me. " You will look after Julian won't you Bill." Bill promised he would and from then on did all he could to prevent her finding out how much I drank.

For those who have never heard of Ironfoot, a short explanation is due. Ironfoot's real name, as far as I can remember was Jack Nieve. He was the uncrowned King of Soho. He looked a little like Dr. Johnson and adopted a rather ponderous way of speaking which heightened the impression. He was bald on top but had white hair flowing over his shoulders and wore a velvet jacket and a cravat with a jewelled pin. One of his legs was shorter than the other by about four inches and he wore an iron frame on the sole of his boot to make up the difference. He was usually accompanied by a lady much younger than himself who he referred to as his "Orniment".

Jack made his living by buying and selling junk in general but he specialised in beads. He would knock on doors and buy necklaces or loose beads. He would string the beads together in threes - a large one in the middle with a smaller one on either side of it. He had a special name for these which I have forgotten, and sold them for sixpence each. As he explained to me, the sale of one of them gave him enough to buy a loaf of bread and a second one paid for a bottle of milk and thus provided for all his needs for a day.

He had a spiel printed, describing himself and what he was prepared to buy, which he gave out on his trips round the houses. The spiel was worded in the most flowery and elaborate language, well worthy of the great Doctor himself. Where Jack lived was a mystery but it was said that you should never let him know your address or you would find you had a lodger.

I first met Jack at the 99 Club at 99 Charlotte Street where he held his Court. At the 99 Club you could get a plate of spaghetti bolognese for ninepence and it was the haunt of a broad section of the less well off including students like myself. I remember one old gentleman who spent the time knitting his own clothes and a young bloke, said to be of Greek parentage, who used sometimes to dance on the tables. I recall that his shoes were split up the backs and laced with string.

When Ironfoot died his obituary was published in at least one of the more respectable papers.

Julian Davies

Back      Top