Lyr Req: Hughes' Bakery Van

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: GUEST,Cormac O (Harry O's son)
Date: 08 Oct 18 - 06:30 AM

I don't know if anyone's still on here. My dad, Harry O, passed away in 2002, but I'm pleased to see his spirit still lives on!
For anyone who's interested, here's a link to a picture of the famous bread vans in a barricade from the North and West Belfast Historical Photo Society FaceBook group: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10215016293894809&set=gm.875326979343129&type=3&theater

Cormac

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: GUEST,gerry o'hare
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 04:31 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: GUEST,gerry o'hare
Date: 23 Dec 11 - 05:22 PM

As a former bread-server in the sixties and up to my Internment, in September 1971, I plied my trade from the Antrim Rd. to the New Lodge, Newington and upper Antrim Road.

My van became notorious for moving "things" around these districts.

One morning coming up to Xmas, 1970, my van was stopped by a joint Brit Army and RUC unit. They dragged me from the van and tore the inside apart.

I had a wry smile on my face. If they had of stopped me the previous day I would probably be still behind bars ...

Feeling cocky I berated them for harassing Catholic workers etc etc.

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a soldier opening what looked to be a bottle of white lemonade. My heart sank. It was a bottle of poitin.
Bread-servers and milkmen were sought out by people who were good at finding stuff that had fallen off the back of lorries.

But it was too late. As the soldier took a swig he started to choke and cried out he had been poisoned.

The RUC man I had been giving a hard time to reached for the bottle, took a small swig and then promptly arrested me. In court i was fined £30, which at the time was about the same as a week's wages.

A local paper ran an over-the-top headline which screamed out at its readers: "POITIN RING SMASHED! BREAD-SERVER HELD!"

Joe Mulhearn sang the song regularly and, if i was in the audience, made sure everybody knew who i was ...

Only spotted this on Facebook a few hours ago

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: GUEST,paddy co derry
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 05:14 PM

this is a message for paul morrison, im trying to track down photos of old bread vans and you mentioned you have some, would it be at all possible to get copies of them, my email [e-mail]
regards paddy.m

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: oldhippie
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 06:37 PM

Can you post a clicky link to the picture of the bread van?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 06:22 PM

Tell us more, GUESTPaul Morrison....
Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: GUEST,paul morrison
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 06:07 PM

barney hughes bread sticks to your belly lead not a bit a wonder you fart like thunder barney hughes bread

I have a picture of the old bread vans

Subject: RE: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: Tucker
Date: 10 May 99 - 12:51 AM

thank you Harry, I certainly want to avoid angering anyone or hurting their feelings. I sure want nothing to do with advancing the troubles. I hope peace comes soon to Ireland.

Subject: RE: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: Harry O
Date: 09 May 99 - 03:25 PM

Tucker, my message was not intended as a rebuke, simply as an indication of the minefield in which the unwary my become stranded. Don't worry about a tune. As the oul' farmer said when he bought the ballad sheet at the fair, "Sure I have the words now. I can go to the mountains for the air." Harry O :-))

Subject: RE: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: Frank Maher
Date: 09 May 99 - 11:48 AM

Hi Harry, Sorry,but I don't have any Music to the Bakery Van... I have It on Tape by a Group called "Men of no Property" and It's only a Recitation..

Subject: RE: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: Tucker
Date: 09 May 99 - 11:22 AM

Sorry Harry, no insult intended. I didn't mean for the troubles to be transported anywhere. I only want them over. And my use of the word Eire was simply taken from some Irish money that I have, certainly no insult meant there either. I know that this is a sensitive issue and I have no quarrel with either the folks in the north or the south. Hell, my dad was protestant and my mom catholic so I have no room for that fight either. My apoligies to all my irish friends if I have insulted you. Sorry for my spelling this morning too.

Subject: RE: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: Harry O
Date: 09 May 99 - 09:26 AM

Frank, you're a flower. that's the very one. All I need now is the tune. Tucker, why should you wish the Troubles to be transported to Ireland ? "Éire" is simply the Gaelic for "Ireland", though the word is often used mischievously by some Unionists in the North to refer to the Republic, knowing full well that it doesn't. It's a mild but calculated insult. Harry O

Subject: RE: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: Tucker
Date: 08 May 99 - 11:40 PM

I am dying to jump into this, but I know the troubles aren't humorous in Ireland. this song rings funny and I'd love to hear it and the fact that bread trucks were used as armored cars is a riot (sorry for the pun). You (we) Irish have a way with words. My hope and prayers are that the troubles are soon gone to Eire.

Subject: Lyr Add: HUGHES' BAKERY VAN
From: Frank Maher
Date: 07 May 99 - 11:34 PM

HUGHES' BAKERY VAN

I remember the time, not too long in the past,
When it was easier to get a gun than a drink in Belfast.
When the "B" specials came and the people all ran,
Sure my life it was saved by an old bakery van.

It was Hughes', Barney Hughes'.
God rest Barney Hughes and his old bakery van.

The day it was passin' down by Dover Street,
When the victory of Bogside was turned bittersweet.
They came from the Shankhill and fired as they ran,
But the bullets just bounced off me old bakery van.

It was Hughes', Barney Hughes'.
God rest Barney Hughes and his old bakery van.

Our armoured division was led by McKee,
In charge of an old bakery van and an old JPV,
But if Rommel had seen him, he'd have gave him a smile,
Firing baps by the dozen, cement by the pile.

They were Hughes', Barney Hughes'.
God rest Barney Hughes and his old bakery van.

Then mounted machine guns on turret cars came,
Bullets three inches long whistled down like the rain,
And the old bakery van that was pierced front & back
But the baps and the van they repelled the attack.

They were Hughes', Barney Hughes'.
God rest Barney Hughes and his old bakery van.

You'll hear variations and most of them lies,
But the boys on the Falls Road were took by surprise,
So we fired Hughes' baps and we fired Hughes' rolls
And we buried them specials all down the manholes.

Come all of you women; take warnin' from me.
Don't go buying your pan loaf or hover so free,
But stand on the corner and wait on the man.
He'll be round, sure as God, in an old bakery van.

And it'll be Hughes', Barney Hughes'.
God rest Barney Hughes and his old bakery van.

Subject: RE: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: Harry O
Date: 07 May 99 - 09:43 PM

In a word, Yes ! Harry O

Subject: RE: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: Frank Maher
Date: 07 May 99 - 05:37 PM

Hi Harry, Are You looking for the Words to the Song????

Subject: Hughes' Bakery Van
From: Harry O
Date: 07 May 99 - 05:09 PM

About thirty years ago, vans belonging to this famous - now defunct, alas - Belfast bakery were pressed into service during the very beginning of the Troubles as makeshift "armoured cars". the song was very funny in a macabre sort of way. There was reference to "We fired Hughes' baps and we fired Hughes' rolls..." Deadly missiles indeed !! Only those who partook of the said confections would appreciate the irony. Harry O