This week I want to send a New Year greeting to everyone from a Leylander who I think could help us with our New Year Resolutions. To smile amid all our difficulties would be a positive contribution for 2010, and this poem, recited at his funeral after Holy Communion amid some emotion by Nobby O’ Brien, a “brother” of Jimmy in Phab helps us. In the photo in last week’s blog you can see the whole body and face of Jimmy shaking with joy as he was with his friends in Morecambe Bay. He was always ready to smile. 

To understand the poem here are some notes of explanation. 

Phab stands for Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied. There are Phab clubs all over the UK. Jimmy joined Lancashire Phab and was a part of that “family” as he was of his own family, that of the parish and the British Legion club of Leyland. 

Jimmy was “no perfect boy” not only because he was an “ordinary lad” like all others, but also because born with cerebral palsy he could not talk or walk like able bodied people do.

Jimmy was away at special schools in most of his formative years to late teens. 

He had a three wheeler blue car until he was unfit to drive it. I remember him in it in the 1980’s.

Borwick Hall is a residential country house near Lancaster used by many groups, often young people for time away from home.. 

When in his last years at school, Jimmy learned how to make furniture with rushes. Hence the reference that “in many homes there is a stool made by Jimmy”.

“In a North East town god had brewed a brown” refers to the famous Newcastle Brown Beer that Jimmy drank in fair quantity. 

A poem in memory of Jimmy Jones

as a tribute from his brothers and sisters in the family of Lancashire Phab.

A SMILE CALLED JIMMY 

In Leyland town a star fell down and birthed a smile called Jimmy

No perfect boy, but still mum’s joy when she saw her smile called Jimmy

His hero dad was oh so glad when he held his smile called Jimmy

This family strong would not wait long to look with pride on Jimmy

His special face, of scowls, no trace, would beam a smile called Jimmy.

A shining jewel, he went to school and shared his smile called Jimmy

Then hour by hour real gold would shower from the boy the loved called Jimmy

He grew to youth and proved in truth that there is a smile called Jimmy

James Jones by name, to Phab he came and brought a smile called Jimmy

He took his place and stood the pace, this golden smile called Jimmy.

With Pete and Pop he would often stop, the smile they knew as Jimmy

In his car of blue his legend grew as did this smile called Jimmy

In this 3 wheeled jet you were well met when he beamed his smile called Jimmy

At Borwick Hall James Jones walked tall and left a smile called Jimmy

On flag days cool James was our jewel as he brought his smile called Jimmy.

In many homes we have a Jones, yes a stool that’s made by Jimmy

At Rossal school, Jim sure looked cool as a tune was played for Jimmy

Jim was on parade on the esplanade as the band they played for Jimmy

In a North East town god had brewed a brown

that would fuel a smile called Jimmy

In many a bar Jones was admired from afar

as he quaffed this smile called Jimmy

Now Jims called home to his maker’s throne

and the sun is now a smile called Jimmy

So on your darkest day you can proudly say

that you knew a smile called Jimmy.

God bless you Jimmy Jones, a legend in your own smile. 

Written and lived by Nobby O`Brien, Jimmy`s brother in the family of Lancashire Phab.