There's a spectre haunting Broadway Market!
An apology. In Search of Origins.
I want to say sorry to everyone I offended yesterday by hinting that the Broadway Market Community only just tolerated Spirit, were glad to see the back of him, and had another coconut man Charlie Collins to wander blessing every money grabbing development that came along. This is not true.
Yesterday on the street of Broadway Market I was apprehended by young Graeme Archer & sundry other vibrant 30-somethings out taking the freelance air. They were at pains, went to great lengths to tell me just how much Spirit represents the Spirit of GV that is BM. In fact, without Spirit there is no, would be no BM! Spirit is BM and they are only following in the spirit of Spirit's pioneering spirit!
I could not help but be moved. Occasionally the spirit of sceptick scientific revolutions courses too boldly through my veins - Leap! Dive! - and I jump or plummet to the wrong conclusion. What was that flash across the sky? I got a friend in Jesus. So you know that when I die he's gonna set me up with the Spirit in the sky. Oh set me up with the Spirit in the sky. That's where I'm gonna go when I die.
It's obvious to even a non-believer like me that Spirit is alive! Spirit's spirit is being kept alive by a group of dedicated followers maintaining a round-the-clock Broadway Market vigil on Saturdays rather like the non-stop picket outside the South African embassy during the years of apartheid.
So inflamed did I become by the zeal and passion shown by the likes of Graeme Archer that yesterday outside the very shop that Spirit began his extraordinary act of commercial defiance, paving the way for scores of other pilgrims similarly inspired by Organics to jump into Spirit's sandals that they all smilingly knew they could never fill, I underwent some kind of spiritual rebirth!
Graeme showed me the video again of his remarkable speech at Conservative Conference. And this time through his clipped merchant-skool tones I heard the good news. Spirit is alive! Spirit was the aboriginal! He set down his yams, saltfish, ackee, scotch bonnets & coconuts - a pioneer! He had a vision! Everyone mocked! But who's laughing now? Everyone! Everyone is happy, there is no reason not to be.
People remember what happened to Spirit and how badly he was treated by Gordon Brown, they will never forget, oh no, especially when it comes to the upcoming local elections! But would Spirit have wanted...does Spirit want people to walk around with long faces, give up the ghost and go back to the bad old days? You can bet your bottom dollar he wouldn't...doesn't!
So smile! That's the Spirit! Be happy! Spirit is alive! Long live the coconut man! Who the children still ask after! Where is the coconut man daddy? And Daddy goes down on his haunches, looks his son straight between the eyes and says:
- Son, Spirit was here first. And now it's Ours!
In the immortal words of Graeme Archer @ Conference:
I believe that the Community of Broadway Market want to open their gates once a week and live with Spirit!
If you are still a non-believer in The Spirit, I urge you to visit The Broadway Market website, where everything will become clear.
