Folklore: Bouncing Billy Barker

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bouncing Billy Barker
From: GUEST,Stuart in Hyde
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 07:52 PM

Just to revisit the topic two years later, there is now an associated blog post that can be found here: Bouncing Billy Barker

There are a few comments from locals and family members.

The domain billybarker.co.uk, the blog post and the other stuff on our sites relating to Billy all stemmed from Mudcat here - so thank you to all the participants once again.

Anything else anyone knows about Billy, please make contact through the blog.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bouncing Billy Barker
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 02:50 PM

I was very pleasantly amazed to see this thread, over a few pints I have often regaled people with the tale of Bouncing Billy Barker from my youth. The most frequent response is "eh up, old motor mouth is spinning another load of old waffle". Although I never saw the canal jump performed myself, my Dad did and I think won a few quid on the successful completion of Bouncing Billy's endeavours, if I'm not mistaken he once jumped the Bridgewater canal near Barton Bridge, possibly during my early years in the late fifties.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bouncing Billy Barker
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 04:15 PM

I'm thrilled to have started something with such a satisfying conclusion :-) I can take no credit but I do like to think that a little question, posed 8 years ago, had a bit of something to do with the blog and Billy's more recent fame!

Thanks to all who contributed.

DtG

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bouncing Billy Barker
From: GUEST,Stuart in Hyde
Date: 05 Jul 13 - 02:16 PM

Dave,

Yes! You can take the credit for that. Indeed I credit the good folk at Mudcat for giving me the inspiration to put something up.

I've recently had a few newspaper cuttings sent to me, and as well as the blog post that has garnered some contact and interest of various people, the original page is still up here: www.BillyBarker.co.uk where you can listen to the two songs kindly supplied by Mark Dowding.

When I get time, I shall put the domain on its own account and combine everything into one place.

The reply is a year late, but I get there in the end.

Greetings and thanks to the good folk at Mudcat!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bouncing Billy Barker
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 Mar 24 - 03:47 PM

I was looking up 'Half Man Half Buiscuit" and came across this thread from over 10 years ago. Didn't find the info on HMHB but I think this is well worth refreshing :-)