Hi Reg, Frank Shepherd moved to Belfast as a newly promoted HTO around 1973 and he and two friends regularly went fishing at the weekends. Tragically one of them, Sammy Dalzell ‘ the wee man’ in the poem was killed in a cycling accident in Belfast. After Sammy’s death, another of the three, Ken McBride wrote a poem about them and Frank asked me to get it typeset and a few copies printed off for him. I kept a copy.
Ken himself died some time ago but his wife who was not aware of the poem was more than happy for us to put it on the HMSOldies website. I further found out ‘the wee man’ represented Ireland in the 1960 summer Olympics in Rome in the ‘featherweight’ weightlifting class, finishing 22nd out of a field of 28.
I thought those who remember Frank might like to read an original copy of the poem.
Regards, John
Hello John, What a great story. Thank you for forwarding the poem, which becomes more appropriate the more we age. I remember Frank, on my early visits to the Belfast office. I see that he joined HMSO in 1960. We will make sure that those with whom we are still in contact who will have known Frank are aware of this fine piece of nostalgia and also see the Wikipedia entry for Sammy Dalzell.
There’s also this note on the Weightlifting Ireland Facebook Page:
Brian Vallely: I can’t believe it’s 60 years since I travelled to Rome with a group of weight lifting enthusiasts organized by the late Buster McShane. We all knew Sammy and went to support him and the other Irish lifters. We were able to walk into the gym where the lifters, weight throwers, gymnasts were training. I had a go at a few lifts and still have the photograph Buster took. Sammy kept us supplied during the long days at the competitions by bringing us chickens and various eatables out of the competitors kitchen. The Olympic Games were totally different then – not like now with police and security all over the place. Great memories. Poor Sammy was knocked off his bike and killed in a tragic accident. From what I remember he was still only in his mid to late 40s. Buster died in a car accident as well. I wonder if there’s anyone still around who remembers Buster’s gym. He was a very innovative coach and his advanced ideas attracted lots of athletes – Mary Peters was there, boxers too like Caldwell and Gilroy, I remember a top swimmer as well. Buster was ahead of everyone in promoting weight training for all sorts of sports. He even brought over top English coaches. I went to maybe his first one which was in Corporation Street, Belfast. I used to get the bus from Armagh to train. Later (1959) when I went to Art College in Belfast there was a few of us from the College trained there – Oliver McLernon and another student Noel – can’t remember his surname.
Best wishes, Reg