The Singing Postman (Allan Smethurst)

Smethurst sent a demo tape to Ralph Tuck who compered a regional radio programme called 'Wednesday Morning' and soon after Tuck set up his own recording company and produced the SPs first record - which appeared in 1964.

Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy? rose to 7th in the national charts and for a brief period the SP was outselling both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. In 1965 Smethurst gave up his day job at the Post Office and embarked on a full time musical career. At this time, he appeared on Top of the Pops and won an Ivor Novello Award for best Novelty Song. However, he soon began to suffer from stage fright and started to drink heavily.

Smethurst recorded some 80 songs - most of which employed the Norfolk dialect - including: My Valentine, I Miss My Miss from Diss and Oi Can't Get a Noice Loaf of Bread. Although he appeared to be a comedic figure - always performing in his Royal mail uniform - his song lyrics had considerable depth and evoked a romantic and nostalgic picture of his Norfolk childhood. It was almost as though he was trying to escape from the present - as his song Yew Carnt Keep Livin' in the Past articulates. Local girl Mollie Bayfield was immortalised in his best known song as his chain smoking Norfolk sweetheart Molly Windley - 'down along th' Mundesley shore'.

Smethurst died in poverty in the Salvation Army Hostel in Grimsby on 22 December, 2000. He had previously worked as a electrician on Grimsby Docks. While living in the hostel, he was visited by Rolf Harris who once had a hit with one of his songs. Towards the end of his life 'Ovaltine' picked up Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy? for their TV add and Smethurst started to get royalties again.

Each year there is a an event held at the Harbour Room in Blakeney to celebrate the work of the Singing Postman.

Links:

Anglian Music

Listen to the SP on You Tube

Singing Postman Tribute Act