John Blake delights the audience with “King of the Shingleers.” at the Grimsby Archives in 2016

The Grimsby Archives hosted an evening in which their members could hear about the “sweat equity” co-op story and meet some of the original builders. John Blake, who filmed throughout the co-op build, is shown here with Janet Muise after she has invited him to sing “King of the Shingleers.” It was originally written by Wilf Worley for John Colleary.

[JOHN BLAKE – SUNG]

“Johnny, John Colleary
King of the shingleers

Born on a hip roof in ole Grimsby
The old Peach belt in the land of the free

The dangest little critter you ever did see
He shingled a roof when he was only three

Johnny, John Colleary
King of the shingleers

Now John grew up in ol’ Grimsby
He was six years old he was six foot three

Up on the gables the wind she’d blow
dang near took John to Kokomo

Johnny, John Colleary
King of the shingleers

Now John had served his apprenticeship
by nine by leaps and bounds he had served

his time
not once in a thousand did he rap his thumb

to the king of the shingleers slivers in his
bum”

[APPLAUSE]

[JOHN BLAKE] To the memory of Wilf Worley who wrote this to the memory of him and it was just fantastic that he put this together for us.

[APPLAUSE]