| HOME |
| HISTORY |
Trevor Genge (Sedgley and District in Old Photographs author) on Black Country Humour
|
On Saturday 28th September 2002 Yampy attended Dudley Archives' 10th Anniversary Open Day
(Click here)
at their Mount Pleasant HQ, and thoroughly enjoyed a presentation by celebrated local
historian Trevor Genge on Black Country Humour. This was far more than a list of Aynuk and Ayli jokes. Trevor began by placing the development of our sense of humour in an anthropological, historical and social context. He first reminded us of Desmond Morris' assertion that the human smile developed from the fear grimace, and illustrated his case with an eclectic selection of supporting evidence; the role of the medieval court jester; the fact that many top comedians are not themselves happy; the feeling many of us have had of wanting inappropriately to laugh in a serious situation. A Black Country phrase sums it up, said Trevor: "If I day loff, I'd cry". He then proceeded to demonstrate that there was plenty to cry about in earlier times, quoting an 1843 offical report on conditions in Gornal and Coseley that painted a pitiful picture of a wretched living and working environment, where the only escape for a man was the pub (and even then the employer might own it). "Dow yow ever get 'umsick?" said Aynuk to Ayli, who more or less lived at the pub. "Onny when I'm at 'um". Trevor cited another report, from 1855, describing a pit accident resulting from a complete failure by the employer to implement an inspector's recommendation regarding ventilation. Black Country workers were constantly in danger, which added a fatalistic streak to an already dour sense of humour. Trevor told of a comment heard at the end of a funeral service once when the mourners appeared to be 'getting on a bit' themselves: "It's 'ardly werth 'em gewin' back 'um is it?" With industrial accidents so frequent, Trevor said that relatives of the victim were often informed in a less than tactful way: "Am yow widder (widow) Jones?" "I'm Mr. Jones' wife, yes" "Well yow jus' cum an look in this barrer (barrow)" According to Trevor, another ingredient in Black Country humour is a desire not to be 'bested', and to therefore 'take down a peg or two' folk of a certain status; doctor, lawyer, vicar, gaffer - anyone with "an extra wheel in their yed". Suspicious of such people, they would say "there'll be a catch in 'im sumweer". This led to a reluctance to accept, or at least be grateful for, favours from their 'superiors'. Trevor related the story of a boss who provides his men with a free pint of beer to celebrate his own son's success. Fishing for compliments afterwards, he asks a worker if the beer was good. "It was perfect". "Perfect?" "Ar, any wuss an I couldn't have drunk it, any better an yow wouldn't have gi'n it we" Trevor's presentation lasted for around an hour and was enthusiastically received by more than 30 people packed into the small ex-classroom. He made a strong case for the link between social deprivation, community isolation, and suspicion of outsiders and our 'betters' in the formation of a distinct sense of humour. It would be interesting for a Black Country person to examine other areas of the country where a similar set of circumstances applied - North East ship-building communities perhaps, or Welsh mining areas, to see whether or not we could recognise something of Aynuk and Ayli on the Tyne or in the Valleys. If you wish to comment on this article, or would like to submit one of your own please email us at admin@yampy.co.uk |
