I'm reading The House That Jack Mundey Built - Jack Mundey Green Ban Hero, by James Coleman

Green ban?

page 136/137 - During his 1975-76 UK visit, Jack played a part in the successful campaign to save the Birmingham General Post Office, a grand example of French Renaissance architecture whose future was threatened by a high rise development proposal. Mundey's message was embraced by the Royal Victorian Society and the building unions, a ban was placed and a vigorous struggle culminated in success. The building (since converted to other uses) had been faithfully restored and stands today as a landmark in the city's Victoria Square. Jack's place in the popular history of the city was aptly captured by a local songwriter in the following ditty, sung by an enthusiastic audience at a rally in the famed Banner Theatre on 20 March 1976 to the tune of "The Wild Colonial Boy.


It's of a wild colonial boy, Jack Mundey is his name.
A building workers' leader from Australia he came.
He said you lads in Birmingham can beat the bosses plan;
Do like we did in Sydney - just put on the old green ban.

Than means you fight for wages, but you fight for something more -
Not only for the right to work - but what you're working for!
A place that's fit to live in, where your kids can thrive and grow,
And not a concrete jungle where you scurry to and fro.

The greedy men of property have knocked old 'Brum" around;
Broad Street, Bull Ring, Aston Cross - they've razed it to the ground;
Put up skyscraper tombstones where a working city once stood -
But there is still time to call a halt, hold on to what is good.

So listen to Jack Mundey when he says 'Green bans are beaut'!
A Green ban on Victoria Square will surely bear some fruit.
If you can win the Post Office, you lads of high renown,
You'll win the right to take the fight to every part of town.

(ref 82 - The lyrics (unsigned) were printed in a program for the event provided to Jack Mundey by English union leader Pete Carter.

New Scientst 1977 re Birminghan Post Office Green Ban

Victoria Square House

Was any catter there? Does anyone remember it?