Wilson's tribute to Alex Higgins
Wilson Burgess was asked by the Ulster Scots Agency to write the poem about the 'Hurricane' and a framed copy of the poem was presented to The Royal Bar in Belfast this morning (Tuesday).
Burgess, a well-known Ulster Scots writer, grew up in the Cullycapple area of Aghadowey but now lives in the Waterside area of Londonderry.
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Hide AdThe wordsmith went back to education after retiring as a Director of a Londonderry-based shirt factory. And, since then he has had two books of his work published.
His debut collection, 'Dae Ye See', is a key textbook for Queen's University's Ulster Scots poetry course.
"I was delighted with the Agency rang me and asked to write something about Alex," he told the Times.
"I have always been a great fan of the 'Hurricane'.
"He breathed life into snooker in the 70's and I remember him winning the world title in 1972 like it was yesterday.
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Hide Ad"I was in Belfast last week and decided to take a walk up the Sandy Row to The Royal Bar.
"I went into the bar and met the owners. I showed them the poem and they were really delighted with it. It's a great honour to have my poem hanging in the pub."
The poem has been framed and will hang alongside other memorabilia belonging to the World champion in his favourite pub in Sandy Row.
Oor Alex
by Wilson Burgess
Frae the Jampot tae the Crucible
It made nae odds tae him,
Oor Alex tuk on al' comers
An'he wid maistly win.
In seventy two in Birmingham,
Hae tuk the place bae storm,
Little did wae al' know then
That a Hurricane wiz born.
He breathed life intae snooker
Whin it wiz dyin'on its feet,
Wae high speed play an'swagger
Hae gaen the worl' a treat.
Fir the nixt ten years hae shone
Bright iz the Northern star,
Hae wiz the people's champion
The maist popular man bae far.
Tae win anither worl' title
Wiz tae bae haes destiny,
The year wiz nineteen echty two
An' the man hae bate wiz Ray.
Noo oor Alex haed haes foibles
Wae'll no argue wae yae there,
Hae'll alwiz bae oor wayward son
Wae hae forgiveness tae spare.
Whin ill health tuk its toll.
Oor Alex: Fight hae didnae lack,
Hae'll bae tellin' them in Heaven noo
Hae wiz snookered bae the Black.