The Wharf in Castlefield Basin is up for an award

Visitors to the Castlefield Canal Basin, Manchester, on the Bridgewater, at the bottom end of the Rochdale Canal, will know that the large pub building, on the Slate Wharf, next to the Middle Warehouse, has been rescued by Rob Broadbent and his team.  It is now open as a busy upmarket pub, called The Wharf, with good food and well cared for beer.  There is more information on the very interesting web site...

http://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/thewharf/

The Wharf is up for an award and would like our support...

The Wharf has been nominated in the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ category of the Manchester Food and Drink Awards, part of the annual food and drink festival.

There are two stages to the judging process: firstly they are visited by a mystery diner, who will assess the quality, flavour and presentation of food and drink, value for money, and the standard of the furnishings and finishes etc.

No, I don't know how you get to be a mystery diner...

The second part of the judging process is where they need our help.  You can vote on the Food and Drink Festival awards page here:

http://foodanddrinkfestival.com/awards

You just add your email, scroll down to the 'Newcomer of the Year' section, and enter your vote, then click on the link in the confirmation email you will receive.

When so many canal side pubs have disappeared I think it is right to say Thank You when this one has been rescued, and is being run so well.

Patrick O'Sullivan

New Song: Sherman Tank

Sherman Tank

Tune:  Wildwood Flower

I will drive in my Sherman to the gates of Berlin,

or dance with an angel on the point of a pin.

Be you Tommy or Frenchie or Polack or Yank

you are welcome to shelter by my Sherman Tank.

If we meet with a Tiger we will hide in the wood,

for a seventy five mill won't do us much good.

We will hide in the wood, lads, and keep out of reach

till the seventeen pounders come up from the beach.

I don’t hate the German as much as I should.

I don’t love my Sherman as much as I could.

For to tell you the truth, in the midst of a war,

I would far rather be in a T34.

To cross that wide river you need a strong bridge,

To cross that high mountain just follow the ridge,

To cross that wide plain you will need a good road,

And always my Sherman to carry your load.

I will drive in my Sherman to the gates of Berlin,

or dance with an angel on the point of a pin.

Be you Tommy or Frenchie or Polack or Yank

you are welcome to shelter by my Sherman Tank.

I think it is generally agreed that we do not have enough songs about the tanks, and other armoured and tracked vehicles, of World War II.

This song attempts to fill that gap.

This song will go to the tune of Wildwood Flower, the same tune that Woody Guthrie used for his song Reuben James.  Woody Guthrie adds an extra element to the tune, a little 2 line chorus.  If we need that chorus just adapt the Tommy and Frenchie couplet.

© Patrick O’Sullivan 2012