Down and out

Vincent Riley (left)

He sang of his mother
In the Emerald Isle
He walked the streets
With a spirited smile
He was an hero in battle
Who had just lost his way
We remember him fondly
Vincent Riley his name

Vincent Riley was one of the potteries true characters. He was seen wandering the streets of North Staffordshire, usually the worse for wear from drinking methylated spirits. He would also sing songs that were usually about his mother who had lived in Ireland, and whom he hadn't seen since he was a very small child.

He was a military man and was said to have been something of an hero during the war, sadly he had become an alcoholic after leaving the armed forces and quickly fell into homelessness.Some say the demise of his mental health was because the army had denied him compasionate leave to go to the funeral, and that he never truly got over her death. We will never know for sure, but in those days mental health and drink dependancy were seen as social taboos and were not treated with the same degree of care as we enjoy today.

He slept rough at the brickworks in Cobridge most nights of the week and was often found either by or in the kilns keeping warm. He was found dead on top of a kiln in 1951

Vincent Riley has been the inspiration for many local artists who have tried to capture his personality in paintings.

BAREWALL ARTWORK

Thanks to The Sentinel for info and picture

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