Part extract of, THE OLD SCOTTISH STONE / TH' AULD SCOTTISH STAINE by Robbie Kennedy Bennett As the waves cover over the old Scottish stone, A thought in my mind, a feeling of home. For Fife a flame will burn, as long as I live I will learn. Where I was from and who I am, What is the blood that runs through this man? Like the flags I am flying, like the stones I am grey, I've a bold Scottish passion that won't wash away. The Old Scottish Stone was written after ancestral feelings in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
Pages of time in rhyme from someone with a BLACK COUNTRY and SCOTTISH ancestral background. The common decency of the honest working men that I have toiled alongside and my good family values are all I need to help put my thoughts into words.
Paintings by LESLIE BROADFIELD
A message to the friends of the late Ben Young.
Ben was an apprentice plumber and a former pupil at Pool Hayes School. See poem page Sing For Your Friend Ben Young.
There came a time in my life when I looked back as well as forward. Because of my parents I have always thought of myself as being half-Scottish. I was schooled and raised in the town I was born in and played football on most of the football pitches in the area. I also trained myself to be marathon fit by running many miles on roads where generations of my family have travelled and past factories that they have worked in. I was a very active young lad and the Royal Hospital, now redundant, was often having me as a patient. As kids my friends and I were finding out who we were when cutting our teeth in the streets and on the local playing fields around the Rough Hills. 'I'm English but I'm also half-Scottish' I would proudly say, 'my dad is from Scotland.' In later years not only did I want to know more about my roots, I wished that I could turn back the sporting clock.
Property of RKB
See page LADYBANK VIOLET to view the story poem of how I would have done things differently.
My poem THE KINGDOM OF FIFE was in the Fife Leader newspaper and my first to be printed in Scotland. They sent me a copy and I experienced a strange feeling when reading it. I had told them that I wanted to send the poem home, and there it was, in many a household in Fife.
So, I know what my home town is and I have feelings for Scotland, but who am I?
Property of RKB
My parents had met during National Service and settled in my mothers home town of Wolverhampton. It was here in 1984 that I ran my first marathon. Although proud of my midland roots and up bringing, I have always felt that there is more to me.
Our family holidays were often spent in Gt Yarmouth. I recently found out that this part of the British coast was the winter fishing water of the Fishermen from Fife. As a young lad my favourite flag on my sand castle was the red rampant lion on a yellow background. That feeling never changed, and many years later I find myself returning to Fife as often as I can, too late to take my dad with me.
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IN MY BLOOD www.scotlands-enchanting-kingdom.com/in-my-blood.html
I once read that Scots bloodlines have a marked tendency to uphold and cherish their roots. I find that I can associate myself in that category and it reflects in my writing.
The 19th century Edinburgh novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson understood the psychology of man and his mental make-up. He said that he cherished the memory of his forebears, good or bad. And there burns alive in him a sense of identity.
Sence of identity for me came a few years ago when I was alone on the coast of St Andrews well after mid-night. I was there for work re-lated business and my family was back at home. Alone, yes but a right to be here and to feel as if it is a part of me. Afer all, my Dad was from Ladybank, not too far away. I can recall him mentioning Cupar and Auchtermuchty. Inner feelings of belonging, guilt and confusion surfaced. My poem THE OLD SCOTTISH STONE encouraged me even more so not to ever let go.
Property of RKB
Part extract of THE OLD SCOTTISH STONE (Auld Scottish Staine)©
St Andrews a town that's so proud
A voice in the wind that speaks loud,
‘‘The blood in that man is still strong
To remember your roots is not wrong’’.
The clouds may get heavy the stones may be grey,
The sea tells St Andrews
‘‘He won't wash away’’.
As true as the poems that you may read of my Scottish blood, given to me by my Dad, Cecil 'Jock' Kennedy Bennet, it 'willnae wash awa', and I never want it to.
The south coast of Fife
The Ancestry Walk © Robbie Kennedy Bennett
## Property of RKB
View poems on page FIFE COASTAL PATH.
My love for Scotland is apparent in my writing but I never lose sight of my Wulfrunian up-bringing. I am proud to be connected with family names that are scattered all around.
The city of Wolverhampton has a documented history that goes back to 985AD. It was then that King Aethelred granted land known as Heantune to Lady Wulfruna.
My poem, A WULFRUNIAN WAY, is about family and the history of Wolverhampton.
Property of RKB
Also on the page A WULFRUNIAN WAY is a painting with kind permission of the artist Leslie Broadfield of Wolverhampton.
A wanderer with a Scottish heart,
A man divided in two.
I believe that it would be wrong to forget my other ancestral side. Having lost my dad in 1986 when he was aged 59, I think that it is important that his grandchildren should not forget their Scottish ancestry background. Returning to the land where generations of my family have lived and toiled is inspirational. I can instantly see the St Andrews Saltire flag flying, or even stickers on cars and lorries on the motorway, it draws my attention from far away.
Property of RKB
My football interest appears to have came from my Mother's side, her real Father having played in goal for Merthyr Tydfil.
On her side is also Rowley, a name of football recognition.
As a young lad I attended and played for the school football team, like family before me. This was before the day of mini-soccer when teams played 11 v 11. It was my first introduction to organised football and I had to learn the rules very quickly. I was a player from the year below and played on the right wing. I can recall everyone calling BENNETT YOU'RE OFFSIDE. The next day in school the headmaster would take me aside and again explain the offside rule.
see FOOTIE POEMS.
A Wanderer with a Scottish heart, and I know where my inspiration comes from, and it is not all from my Scottish side.
My Heart And Soul © Robbie Kennedy Bennett
In thought I cross the family divide, is a line from my poem SOJOURN IN ST ANDREWS. It is about the realisation of having a past somewhere away from my place of birth. Guilty feelings surfaced but I felt a belonging and an ancestral right to be there.
My Mom has always been supportive of my brothers and I connecting with our Scottish side if we wish to. She loves Scotland herself and in April 2008 she was with me for her first visit to Ladybank, my Dad's village in Fife.
Property of RKB
Property of RKB
Property of RKB
Other poems about individual people can be found on page FLIGHTY GUY.
They need not to have been famous and they can even be fictitious.
This page is where folk from all walks of life combine.
My writing helps me to keep people, places and moments alive. In my words is a haven of feelings, some have been bottled for many years and is maturing with time.
Property of RKB
Her Little Lips © Robbie Kennedy Bennett
Her Little Lips is about me as a young man and first seeing my new born baby daughter. Responsibility and love rolled into one feeling.
Friday 25th July 2008
Property of RKB
For over twenty years my family and I have lived in the Staffordshire village of Codsall, 5 miles outside of Wolverhampton towards the Shropshire border.
The pictures on display with my poems around Codsall and Oaken are not too bad for someone who was only walking the dog.
Property of RKB
PLEASE NOTE
On some of the pages there is more than one poem and not listed on the left-hand menu.
On Sunday afternoon between 4.00 and 7.00pm on Radio WM and Coventry and Warwickshire is Bob Brolly's Irish Programme. I often listen in because I like the music and the 'craic'. Also, although being an Irish programme it reminds me of my roots in Scotland. I sent Bob Brolly an E-mail telling him of this and to pay compliments. He has an obvious warmth towards his listeners.
On the 20th January 2008 he kindly read out my poem
A BASEMENT BAR IN LIMERICK.
If you wish to tune in yourself you can find his programme on the listen again feature on the website below.
www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/articles/2005/08/17/weekend_radio_schedule_feature.shtml
Further samples of my writing can be found by entering my name into the Google search engine. www.google.co.uk/
Below are direct links of my writing on other websites.
Football Poets.
www.footballpoets.org/p.asp?Id=22949
Poetry, Songs and Writers of Scotland.
www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/bennett.php
For anyone interested in Fife, I highly recommend the website www.scotlands-enchanting-kingdom.com
Please take time to visit, you will not be disappointed.
IN MY BLOOD
Many thanks to SCOTLAND'S ENCHANTING KINGDOM inviting me to display my work and for their feature page.
See that page at www.scotlands-enchanting-kingdom.com/in-my-blood.html
Also to the Black Country Bugle over the years for displaying my writing. Whenever possible I like to promote this popular nostalgic newspaper, as it was my ambition in the early 1990's to get a poem printed in the Bugle, 'The Voice Of The Black Country'.
www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk
www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/blackcountrybugle-search_new/home.asp?searchterm=ROBBIE+KENNEDY+BENNETT&x=16&y=12
www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/blackcountrybugle-sport/displayarticle.asp?id=135485
Cecil ‘Jock’ Kennedy Bennett
Aaron
Liam
Bill Shankly
James Butler (Sculpture)
Stan Cullis
Dorothy
Eddie Barry
Billy
Marie
HAMPDEN PARK LEGENDS
Hag
Steven
George Rowley
Jane Rowley
John Thomson
Len Muir
Ben Young
Raymond Froggatt
Hartley Cain
Jock Stein
Isabella Cramond Traill
Thomas Joseph Harris
Alexander Kennedy
Ian Jenkins
James McFadden
Michael Pugh
Harry Love
Sydney Partridge
Charlie Hale
Arthur Rowley
Jack Rowley
Tommy Docherty
Hedley Farr
Jeff Astle
Jimmy McGrory
Alf Ramsey
England squad 1966
East Fife FC 1938
Peter Knowles
Brian Guy
Billy Bremner
Chris Paterson
Alf Tupper
Gary McAlister
Fred Lowbridge
Mark Fellows
Henry Cooper
Cassius Clay
Angelo Dundee
Mohammed Ali
Joe Frazier
George Foreman
Billy Liddle
Tam Bennett
Gordon ‘Dixie’ Deans
Thomas Joseph Harris
Charles II
Oliver Cromwell
Mr Evans
William Ambrose Wright
Steve Bull
Pete The Cap
Hughie McIlmoyle
1975
All writing, drawings and photographs are the copyright of Robbie Kennedy Bennett
Paintings by LESLIE BROADFIELD
A message to the friends of the late Ben Young.
Ben was an apprentice plumber and a former pupil at Pool Hayes School. See poem page Sing For Your Friend Ben Young.
There came a time in my life when I looked back as well as forward. Because of my parents I have always thought of myself as being half-Scottish. I was schooled and raised in the town I was born in and played football on most of the football pitches in the area. I also trained myself to be marathon fit by running many miles on roads where generations of my family have travelled and past factories that they have worked in. I was a very active young lad and the Royal Hospital, now redundant, was often having me as a patient. As kids my friends and I were finding out who we were when cutting our teeth in the streets and on the local playing fields around the Rough Hills. 'I'm English but I'm also half-Scottish' I would proudly say, 'my dad is from Scotland.' In later years not only did I want to know more about my roots, I wished that I could turn back the sporting clock.
Property of RKB
See page LADYBANK VIOLET to view the story poem of how I would have done things differently.
My poem THE KINGDOM OF FIFE was in the Fife Leader newspaper and my first to be printed in Scotland. They sent me a copy and I experienced a strange feeling when reading it. I had told them that I wanted to send the poem home, and there it was, in many a household in Fife.
So, I know what my home town is and I have feelings for Scotland, but who am I?
Property of RKB
My parents had met during National Service and settled in my mothers home town of Wolverhampton. It was here in 1984 that I ran my first marathon. Although proud of my midland roots and up bringing, I have always felt that there is more to me.
Our family holidays were often spent in Gt Yarmouth. I recently found out that this part of the British coast was the winter fishing water of the Fishermen from Fife. As a young lad my favourite flag on my sand castle was the red rampant lion on a yellow background. That feeling never changed, and many years later I find myself returning to Fife as often as I can, too late to take my dad with me.
IN MY BLOOD www.scotlands-enchanting-kingdom.com/in-my-blood.html
I once read that Scots bloodlines have a marked tendency to uphold and cherish their roots. I find that I can associate myself in that category and it reflects in my writing.
The 19th century Edinburgh novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson understood the psychology of man and his mental make-up. He said that he cherished the memory of his forebears, good or bad. And there burns alive in him a sense of identity.
Sence of identity for me came a few years ago when I was alone on the coast of St Andrews well after mid-night. I was there for work re-lated business and my family was back at home. Alone, yes but a right to be here and to feel as if it is a part of me. Afer all, my Dad was from Ladybank, not too far away. I can recall him mentioning Cupar and Auchtermuchty. Inner feelings of belonging, guilt and confusion surfaced. My poem THE OLD SCOTTISH STONE encouraged me even more so not to ever let go.
Property of RKB
Part extract of THE OLD SCOTTISH STONE (Auld Scottish Staine)©
St Andrews a town that's so proud
A voice in the wind that speaks loud,
‘‘The blood in that man is still strong
To remember your roots is not wrong’’.
The clouds may get heavy the stones may be grey,
The sea tells St Andrews
‘‘He won't wash away’’.
As true as the poems that you may read of my Scottish blood, given to me by my Dad, Cecil 'Jock' Kennedy Bennet, it 'willnae wash awa', and I never want it to.
The south coast of Fife
The Ancestry Walk © Robbie Kennedy Bennett
## Property of RKB
View poems on page FIFE COASTAL PATH.
My love for Scotland is apparent in my writing but I never lose sight of my Wulfrunian up-bringing. I am proud to be connected with family names that are scattered all around.
The city of Wolverhampton has a documented history that goes back to 985AD. It was then that King Aethelred granted land known as Heantune to Lady Wulfruna.
My poem, A WULFRUNIAN WAY, is about family and the history of Wolverhampton.
Property of RKB
Also on the page A WULFRUNIAN WAY is a painting with kind permission of the artist Leslie Broadfield of Wolverhampton.
A wanderer with a Scottish heart,
A man divided in two.
I believe that it would be wrong to forget my other ancestral side. Having lost my dad in 1986 when he was aged 59, I think that it is important that his grandchildren should not forget their Scottish ancestry background. Returning to the land where generations of my family have lived and toiled is inspirational. I can instantly see the St Andrews Saltire flag flying, or even stickers on cars and lorries on the motorway, it draws my attention from far away.
Property of RKB
My football interest appears to have came from my Mother's side, her real Father having played in goal for Merthyr Tydfil.
On her side is also Rowley, a name of football recognition.
As a young lad I attended and played for the school football team, like family before me. This was before the day of mini-soccer when teams played 11 v 11. It was my first introduction to organised football and I had to learn the rules very quickly. I was a player from the year below and played on the right wing. I can recall everyone calling BENNETT YOU'RE OFFSIDE. The next day in school the headmaster would take me aside and again explain the offside rule.
see FOOTIE POEMS.
A Wanderer with a Scottish heart, and I know where my inspiration comes from, and it is not all from my Scottish side.
My Heart And Soul © Robbie Kennedy Bennett
In thought I cross the family divide, is a line from my poem SOJOURN IN ST ANDREWS. It is about the realisation of having a past somewhere away from my place of birth. Guilty feelings surfaced but I felt a belonging and an ancestral right to be there.
My Mom has always been supportive of my brothers and I connecting with our Scottish side if we wish to. She loves Scotland herself and in April 2008 she was with me for her first visit to Ladybank, my Dad's village in Fife.
Property of RKB
Property of RKB
Property of RKB
Other poems about individual people can be found on page FLIGHTY GUY.
They need not to have been famous and they can even be fictitious.
This page is where folk from all walks of life combine.
My writing helps me to keep people, places and moments alive. In my words is a haven of feelings, some have been bottled for many years and is maturing with time.
Property of RKB
Her Little Lips © Robbie Kennedy Bennett
Her Little Lips is about me as a young man and first seeing my new born baby daughter. Responsibility and love rolled into one feeling.
Friday 25th July 2008
Property of RKB
For over twenty years my family and I have lived in the Staffordshire village of Codsall, 5 miles outside of Wolverhampton towards the Shropshire border.
The pictures on display with my poems around Codsall and Oaken are not too bad for someone who was only walking the dog.
Property of RKB
PLEASE NOTE
On some of the pages there is more than one poem and not listed on the left-hand menu.
On Sunday afternoon between 4.00 and 7.00pm on Radio WM and Coventry and Warwickshire is Bob Brolly's Irish Programme. I often listen in because I like the music and the 'craic'. Also, although being an Irish programme it reminds me of my roots in Scotland. I sent Bob Brolly an E-mail telling him of this and to pay compliments. He has an obvious warmth towards his listeners.
On the 20th January 2008 he kindly read out my poem
A BASEMENT BAR IN LIMERICK.
If you wish to tune in yourself you can find his programme on the listen again feature on the website below.
www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/articles/2005/08/17/weekend_radio_schedule_feature.shtml
Further samples of my writing can be found by entering my name into the Google search engine. www.google.co.uk/
Below are direct links of my writing on other websites.
Football Poets.
www.footballpoets.org/p.asp?Id=22949
Poetry, Songs and Writers of Scotland.
www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/bennett.php
For anyone interested in Fife, I highly recommend the website www.scotlands-enchanting-kingdom.com
Please take time to visit, you will not be disappointed.
IN MY BLOOD
Many thanks to SCOTLAND'S ENCHANTING KINGDOM inviting me to display my work and for their feature page.
See that page at www.scotlands-enchanting-kingdom.com/in-my-blood.html
Also to the Black Country Bugle over the years for displaying my writing. Whenever possible I like to promote this popular nostalgic newspaper, as it was my ambition in the early 1990's to get a poem printed in the Bugle, 'The Voice Of The Black Country'.
www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk
www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/blackcountrybugle-search_new/home.asp?searchterm=ROBBIE+KENNEDY+BENNETT&x=16&y=12
www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/blackcountrybugle-sport/displayarticle.asp?id=135485
Cecil ‘Jock’ Kennedy Bennett
Aaron
Liam
Bill Shankly
James Butler (Sculpture)
Stan Cullis
Dorothy
Eddie Barry
Billy
Marie
HAMPDEN PARK LEGENDS
Hag
Steven
George Rowley
Jane Rowley
John Thomson
Len Muir
Ben Young
Raymond Froggatt
Hartley Cain
Jock Stein
Isabella Cramond Traill
Thomas Joseph Harris
Alexander Kennedy
Ian Jenkins
James McFadden
Michael Pugh
Harry Love
Sydney Partridge
Charlie Hale
Arthur Rowley
Jack Rowley
Tommy Docherty
Hedley Farr
Jeff Astle
Jimmy McGrory
Alf Ramsey
England squad 1966
East Fife FC 1938
Peter Knowles
Brian Guy
Billy Bremner
Chris Paterson
Alf Tupper
Gary McAlister
Fred Lowbridge
Mark Fellows
Henry Cooper
Cassius Clay
Angelo Dundee
Mohammed Ali
Joe Frazier
George Foreman
Billy Liddle
Tam Bennett
Gordon ‘Dixie’ Deans
Thomas Joseph Harris
Charles II
Oliver Cromwell
Mr Evans
William Ambrose Wright
Steve Bull
Pete The Cap
Hughie McIlmoyle
1975
All writing, drawings and photographs are the copyright of Robbie Kennedy Bennett