JACKO NESBIT THE PLINKEY PLONK MAN

LOCAL CHARECTORS IN LIVERPOOL HISTORY

WHO REMEMBERS THE PLINKEY PLONK MAN? BELOW THE KIRKBY TIMES DID A PIECE ON HIM IN 2003.

JACKSON NESBITT REST IN PEACE

www.kirkbytimes.co.uk Working Class Resistance Local Culture Local Culture Kirkby Jackson Nesbitt (Jacko) Jacko is one of Liverpool's characters. Many Scousers will know him or know of him. Jacko is one of the Street people who amuses and brightens up a dull day. Jacko uses a cardboard cut-out of a banjo to busk with in Liverpool City Center - you may have seen him dressed in a Father Christmas hat which compliments his beard. He talks in an Irish Accent and is a great story teller. I've personally known Jacko for a good few years now. I'd sooner donate money to people like him than to most charities. He is from an era where we had many tramps and old blokes who stayed on the streets, a lot of the younger generation of street people are drug casualties. Jacko has always been polite to me and has NEVER asked me for money. He's a busker/street entertainer and we the public have the choice of whether we pay him or not. The people who annoy me are the stuck up Lib Dem Councillors and the likes of the devious Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council - David Henshaw, who'd like to kick Jacko and anyone else who doesn't 'look right' out of the City Center. We must make sure that the City Centre is a place where the snobs are allowed to push the working class culture out of the way; they've already tried to ban Big Issue Sellers! Jacko is part of our culture in Liverpool. We ought to pay him just to stand around the City Center. We'll keep the Guinness flowing here Born in Armagh on the 26th of June 1938, his proper name is Jackson Nesbitt. Jacko told me that his family were originally Germans and Jewish and he has fond memories of his grandmother who apparently led a singsong on a boat which was targeted by torpedo. Jacko can recall with clarity many stories from his youth and as a young man. It would be interesting to record his stories, and his songs which he writes himself. Jacko sang a song he'd lined up to promote Guinness - to the tune of 'we'll keep the red flag flying here' - changed to 'We'll keep the Guinness flowing here" A Classic! Jacko has been in Liverpool for some 25 years busking, and spent a total of 50 years in all entertaining the people with his brand of humour and amusement for passers by. As I sat down with Jacko today (Fri Oct 14 2003) he was sat by Queens Square, it was a rainy day with a fair old breeze. Jacko's shoes were falling apart, so if any readers are in Liverpool City Centre - Jacko takes a size 9 - A good few people stopped to say hello - and a bloke stopped to take a photo. Apparently Jacko is a good photo opportunity for tourists and passers by - but I would say that if anyone does photograph him then paying him a couple of quid would be a nice gesture. I paid him a couple of quid for the photos I took - but would have donated it regardless. This is the first time I've had my camera when Jacko has been around so I was glad of the opportunity to capture one of Liverpool's legends. Below - the view from the street - this is what the audience looks like for a busker Jacko or Jackson Nesbitt can be contacted at his headquarters around Queens Square and surrounding streets. You may spot the cut out banjo, his beard and perhaps a Father Christmas hat. You can donate by cash only - no cheques or credit cards please! If you don't wish to donate cash then you have the option of buying food or non alcoholic beverages from Sayers, Gregg's etc. Ask him beforehand - he may have eaten already. Jacko takes a size 9 shoes - as of 14th Oct 2003 the need for new shoes is vital - if your there - and you care - catch him on his rounds and drop off the shoes. A warm waterproof coat would be also be appreciated - water proof trousers would be a help now the Winters here. Do what you can - lets look after people like Jacko - he is a pleasant enough bloke and deserves a break. That little spot where Jacko was sat could well be reserved for you or me. For this reason it's wise to treat people at the lowest end of society with dignity. Most of us know this and we try to be kind to those who have hit on hard times or those who choose to live on the streets because it's the only place they know. As we approach Christmas - try to be good to people worse off - and never forget that it's the poor like me and you who dig deepest in our pockets. I gave Jacko £3.00 - that represents about 3% of my total weekly income at this financially challenged period of my life - now look at some of the high earning Middle Class pen-pushers invading Liverpool - some of them earn £600 at least per week - and for them to donate the equivalent percentage I gave, would add up to giving about a £15 donation. Funnily enough - it's the very same highly paid pen pushers who walk on by! - The middle classes and snobs NEVER throw a few quid to a tramp - and many tramps and street people have told me this. The people donating are the Working Class as a rule. This makes me proud to be Working Class - yet I see the stupidity of our Class in allowing the rich to rob us as they do. Charity is often the poor donating to the poor! Anyway - if you see Jacko in town - tell him he's famous on the Internet now! - If any rich people want to donate a top pair of shoes to him - get in touch with Kirkby Times. Kirkby Job Center and the fiddle If you ever see me busking in town - don't tell Kirkby Job Center I'm on the fiddle - I'm actually playing a guitar! - get it? - Good luck if you need it. Give generously! And take generously -off the rich of course! Back to Top Local Culture 3 Cups for the Kop Music Working Class Culture. Support Local Fanzines Photography All contents of this Web Site are copyright © 2003 Kirkby Times (www.kirkbytimes.co.uk). All rights reserved. No portion of this Web Site may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, without prior written permission from Kirkby Times.

LIVERPOOL HISTORY 2005

Over 2 years ago, Larry Neild was asking if the next Chief Executive was in the list of 10 pictured below. Over 2 years later we are still asking that question? Colin Hilton is the person the Liberal Democrats chose, however he is so ineffectual, how can he lead us to anything, let alone the Capital of Culture???? Is a new leader in waiting here?

Mar 18 2005

City Editor Larry Neild looks at the top 10 names to take Liverpool up to Capital of Culture year

Daily Post

INTERNATIONAL headhunters were paid £75,000 to search for a new captain to steer Liverpool out of troubled waters in 1999. However, their search stopped at nearby Knowsley Council whose then chief executive left to take up the top job in Merseyside's largest local authority. Now the hunt is back on to find a new steward for the city, someone who will lead it into Capital of Culture Year in 2008. The outgoing Sir David Henshaw has been credited as one of the key architects in the transformation of Liverpool. However, his intention to leave his Dale Street office sooner rather than later opens up the prospect of a key job in local government being up for offers. And, with a salary worth at least £180,000, it offers the successful applicant the chance to shine as Liverpool focuses on becoming one of Euope's major city destinations. Undoubtedly, this will lead to a number of high-quality candidates jockeying for the number one position in the forthcoming months. Top 10 names in the frame are: * John Flamson, head of Merseyside Objective 1 Programme. His current task is ensuring the £2bn European-backed programme is wisely managed. He is seen as a tough talking civil servant with the gentle touch. * Carole Hudson, chief executive of St Helens council. The glass town has seen its profile raised dramatically thanks to Ms Hudson who has put it firmly on the regeneration map. * Jim Gill, chief executive of Liverpool Vision. Seen as a nononsense talker who heads the public-private company charged with regenerating the city centre. Some say releasing Gill from the 'shackles' of a second tier body overseen by the council executive will show an unseen executive capable of high delivery. * Frances Done, former Rochdale council chief executive who headed the Manchester Commonwealth Games company. Now a high flyer with the Audit Commission. * Steve Broomhead, one time Warrington council chief and now chief executive of the North West Development Agency. His job is to delicately balance the interests of a massive area stretching from Cheshire to the Lake District while making sure rivals big city Liverpool and Manchester get their fair shares. * Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester city council. Veteran local government go-getter who has over-seen the transformation of Manchester. * Tom O'Brien, chief executive of The Mersey Partnership. A local boy, "done good", who reached the dizzy heights of the World Bank in Washington before being 'loaned' to Merseyside. * Phil Halsall, Liverpool's executive director for resources. Former chief executive of South Ribble who is credited with transforming Liverpool's financial situation. * Colin Hilton, executive director for Lifelong Learning at Liverpool. Like Halsall, was one of the five super-directors hired under the Henshaw regime. Education in Liverpool has been transformed. * Brenda Smith, former MD of Granada and now managing director of another media empire. Former Merchant Taylors girl Ms Smith is also on the board of the NWDA, and, in 2003, was named North West Businesswoman of the Year. Whatever the choice, though, the man, or woman, picked as chief executive will be at the helm during the 800th birthday celebrations in 2007 and, perhaps more importantly, in 2008. larryneild@dailypost.co.uk Hunt is on for outstanding ambassador LIVERPOOL needs a chief executive who can act as an ambassador to the city during a crucial period in its history. The Merseyside area has been undergoing something of a renaissance in recent years and this will no doubt intensify as Capital of Culture Year, in 2008, comes closer. So one of the main criteria when considering who to choose for the post will be a person's ability to shine as Liverpool looms larger on the European stage. The chief executive will receive a salary of £180,000. Another role will be meeting VIP visitors as well as Royalty, and to be involved in complex talks about key projects. The person must also be a mover and shaker, as well as the most senior paid ambassador for the city around the country and abroad. The chief executive is also the chief advisor to the council cabinet, or executive board.