I dedicate my song today to my niece Evie who is the daughter of my sister Susan and the sister of her brother Lee, and the mother to her three young children, Reuben, Jacob, and Elora. Today, Evie (who lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire) celebrates her birthday. Happy birthday, Evie. Enjoy your special day. Uncle Billy and Sheila xx.
We also wish a happy birthday to Helena Wong who lives in Hong Kong with her husband. Helena is my wife, Sheila’s cousin. Enjoy your special day, Helena. Bill and Sheila Forde xx
We also wish a happy birthday today to Mary Walker who lives in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Mary celebrates her 78th birthday today. Enjoy your 78th year Mary (I celebrated my 78th birthday a few weeks ago). I always remember a deceased friend of mine (Stan Barstow, the author of ‘A Kind of Loving’) telling me when we were out enjoying a pub meal one evening, “I don’t object to being older, Bill, as I feel that I have more freedom to be me. Life is too damn short to be polite all the time!”.
Today I sing the Christmas song ‘Mary’s Boy Child’. This is a Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston, and which is widely performed as a Christmas carol. Harry Belafonte heard the song being performed by the choir and sought permission to record it. It was recorded and released in 1956. The song was also recorded by Bony M, and Andy Williams, and dozens of other artists. It is regularly played every Christmas since it was first released 64 years ago.
Merry Christmas and love and peace Bill and Sheila xxx