Yes, Paul Connor died about 8 years ago; I knew him from the Jolly Angler on Monday evenings where he would come and sometimes read his verses.

I loved his one about meeting -and losing- his love in Lewis's in Manchester, as he was going up one escalator and she was going down the other. Anyone keep a record of it? He didn't like anyone recording him.

I also think of Paul whenever I hear the shanty about a big buck 'navvy' with his seaboots on.
Paul's theory was that the only reason for the seaboots being remarkable enough to be mentioned in the song, was that they were all he was wearing...