Stormy Petrel by Paige Temperley

Musician Paige found out about local legend Joseph Ray Hodgson (1829—1908) through research and our many walks round the area. Nicknamed Stormy Petrel, after the seabirds, Hodgson was hailed as a hero dozens of times after risking his life to save people from drowning, often during a winter storm in the North Sea, when he could be seen on the pier searching the skyline for ships in distress in order that he might help. He is commemorated with a blue plaque situated on Boars Head Bistro on High Street East.

Lyrics I can escape here I always have You can find me heading down to the tracks Whisk me away on the southbound train oh Gives me the strength to face the world when I get back Yeah you can find me finding peace down by the tracks

Verses: My old man, drove the J-27s From the south docks, slowed into the station Carrying coal trucks He’d pick me up And put me on the foot plate That’s how I’d spend my skipped school days

Of course those days I didn’t own a watch I timed it all from the old school clock make sure I knew when To slip through the school fence Catch her steaming into view What better way to have spent my youth

Watching the world and getting into trouble eating Bacon and eggs from the hot coal shovel cooked quick it was so hot Straight from the fire box With a flask of tea on the hot plate These are the memories that stay