Wilson's tribute to Alex Higgins

Wilson Burgess was asked by the Ulster Scots Agency to write the poem about the 'Hurricane' and a framed copy of the poem was presented to The Royal Bar in Belfast this morning (Tuesday).

Burgess, a well-known Ulster Scots writer, grew up in the Cullycapple area of Aghadowey but now lives in the Waterside area of Londonderry.

The wordsmith went back to education after retiring as a Director of a Londonderry-based shirt factory. And, since then he has had two books of his work published.

His debut collection, 'Dae Ye See', is a key textbook for Queen's University's Ulster Scots poetry course.

"I was delighted with the Agency rang me and asked to write something about Alex," he told the Times.

"I have always been a great fan of the 'Hurricane'.

"He breathed life into snooker in the 70's and I remember him winning the world title in 1972 like it was yesterday.

"I was in Belfast last week and decided to take a walk up the Sandy Row to The Royal Bar.

"I went into the bar and met the owners. I showed them the poem and they were really delighted with it. It's a great honour to have my poem hanging in the pub."

The poem has been framed and will hang alongside other memorabilia belonging to the World champion in his favourite pub in Sandy Row.

Oor Alex

by Wilson Burgess

Frae the Jampot tae the Crucible

It made nae odds tae him,

Oor Alex tuk on al' comers

An'he wid maistly win.

In seventy two in Birmingham,

Hae tuk the place bae storm,

Little did wae al' know then

That a Hurricane wiz born.

He breathed life intae snooker

Whin it wiz dyin'on its feet,

Wae high speed play an'swagger

Hae gaen the worl' a treat.

Fir the nixt ten years hae shone

Bright iz the Northern star,

Hae wiz the people's champion

The maist popular man bae far.

Tae win anither worl' title

Wiz tae bae haes destiny,

The year wiz nineteen echty two

An' the man hae bate wiz Ray.

Noo oor Alex haed haes foibles

Wae'll no argue wae yae there,

Hae'll alwiz bae oor wayward son

Wae hae forgiveness tae spare.

Whin ill health tuk its toll.

Oor Alex: Fight hae didnae lack,

Hae'll bae tellin' them in Heaven noo

Hae wiz snookered bae the Black.