Tommy Steele on the move

Why as Tommy Steeles dad called Darbo?.

Hi Bermondseyboy,in Tommy Steeles book (you can all guess the title there's a big clue here) he asked his Dad about the nickname he said. 'Cos I'm Tommy Hicks,and my dad was Tommy Hicks,and so was his dad, and we was all called Darbo.

   But I'm Tommy Hicks so why a'int I Darbo?, cos you a'int,said his dad.

Thank's again for the film clips

Rod.

Hi Rod

Thanks for the explanation, yes I have the book and yes you are correct, however it does not explain how he and his Father got the name Darbo, I don't think Tommy Steele knows either.
One more thing thats bugging me, on the Video the commentary says that Tommy's Dad in the clip is his Stepdad? is this not Darbo, he certainly looks like the photograph in the book?
Or is it, i'm getting so Old that my earing and sight have gone or am i just plain stupid.

Be Truthful, it wont hurt my feelings much? -- it's Stupid ain't it.

Cheers

Bermondseyboy

Hi Bermondseyboy

Don't worry you aint't stupid, I thought exactly the same thing,he does look like the picture of his dad in the book.Could it be that there spelling was even worse than mine,bearing in mind there great interest in horse raceing could it originaly be  intended as "Derby" after the classic event at Epson. Far fetched perhaps but if Tommy dosn't know who does,

  I had the book as a christmas present and really enjoyed reading about someone else's recollections of Bermondsey.Pits Head were they lived could have been on the site of Harold Estate.

One nice little touch, regarding the new flats built on the site of his old house in Frean St is the developers have called it Hicks House. I wonder how many people living there will know what it means. What a  great book though.
 The Harold estate was built in the thirties (along with lots of similar estates in Bermondsey) and they replaced dozens of little alleys and cut throughs. Reading his book I didn't realise just how rough it was south of Tower Bridge Rd. I used to live in the old railway buildings in Webb St and it seemed good enough in the 60s. If I have a pre thirties map I'll try and post it.