Poem About Barrow-in-Furness 'Our Barra Town'

'Our Barra Town' is a poem that expresses the hometown pride of Barrovian co-writers Sally Ann Staunton and John Rennie.

Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town in the north-west of England which has received negative press in the national media in recent years. The writers feel this criticism has been unfair and have created this video in response.

"Come and see it for yourself, find out what's true. We can't wait to share Our Barra Town with you"

'Our Barra Town' was produced by John Rennie with support from BarrowFull for the Boosting Barrow's Creativity Project, and the amazing community of people in the Furness area. A huge thank you to Alan Griffiths, Matt Dust and Nicos Nicholaides for contributing their drone footage. Special thanks goes to Simon Rennie, Andrew Steel, Michelle Whalley, Karen Scarr, Dave Turner, John Murphy, Paul Rennie, George Kemp, Vera Staunton, Josh Duncan and Josh Spedding for agreeing to be filmed. Thanks to Jonny Williams and Claire Williams for your support with the project.

[richardleigh]

I've been to Barrow in furness, and most of the shops are shut,
Some streets are very untidy and some lawns need to be cut.
The town center is in need of development, as vandals smash the shops,
You could report these young thugs, that's if you can find any cops!.
But the people I met in Barrow, we're warm and lovely folk,
Very strong minded individuals, their spirit will not be broke,
For a moment, the Abbey has many secrets, waiting to be told,
Please visit this unique setting, before you get too old.
I came up from london, where people don't speak to you,
But the real folk from Barrow, are honest, loving, and true.

God bless Barrow in furness.

[snakebite]

Barrow lad born and bread, not the greatest upbringing, but it gave me determination to do something, I have traveled the world, seen things only people dream of, no longer live in Barrow but I am very proud of it, yes, people are salt of the earth who live there, honest as the day breaks, no frills, just real people and friendly with it, there are many beautiful areas as mentioned and also as mentioned, don't listen to the media or it's spin.... and the past and current industrial history is something to be proud of, continue to visit Barrow and proud to be a 'Barrovian', will always come back, proud and will also be proud until the day my life ends....Thanks for posting...well done all who made this video happen....

[gvp]

It’s in my blood! Even more proud after Dave Day.

[leroybrown]

You should seriously consider entering this into a national poetry competition! You will win! Beautifully done, well done. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[chaptermusic]

This sums up exactly how I feel about my wonderful home town. Well done Sally Ann, and John.😍

[AM-nisz]

I’m Australian and went to college in Barrow for a year. Thanks for that.

[stephenbaker]

I've no Apart from this needs shared with the nation! Really emotive words.... I'm not from Barrow but worked there for many years and made some strong friendships. Many thanks for sharing this. 'One man's junk is another man's

[Bigh]

Thank you so much. Left Barrow on 4 July 1961 aged 8, but always proud of my home town. I came back after a long absence a few years ago and the town has changed but not the people.

[robertawalker]

What a wonderful poem and filming. My parents were from Barra and I still have many cousins there. Today on my 80th birthday I had a garden party and two Barra lasses sang - The Lee Sisters/Curly Tops. Our grandma's lived in Buller St. in the early 1900's. We met here in Huddersfield when I was born but I have returned to Barra' almost every year of my life. Barra is my 2nd home and I love it to bits. On a local photo group only yesterday evening, I told someone of all the places mentioned when they visit the area in July. I tell people it is a real good Norther Town for which we are thankful and the people are the salt of the earth, and I will always defend it and them - always have done. Barra is in my blood and I am proud of the old place. .

[seanbeaumont]

Absolutely love this... Born 1964 and been boomeranging back to Barrow since 1967 from Sheffield...

[dianeengelbrecht]

This short film is simply wonderful, I have lived in Africa for 41 years I may never be able to return to my Barra, this little town will be in my blood forever. Diane Engelbrecht ( Jones )

[paulfisher]

Wonderful. Absolutely ace. I’ve just left my job at the shipyard (used to work with Simon) but Barrow has left something in my soul. The people are wonderful. You have encapsulated everything about the place in this piece. Well done. I’ve written a couple of poems about Barrow myself, here’s one…

Barrow in Furness.
Somnolent town of submarines
And seagull shite.
Set fair and square; edged out by
The vastness and empty vessel
Of the lakes.

Japanese tourist never ventured its
Salt of the earth.
look deeper and closer and wider
And find a faith of your own here.
Strength in depth;
people are people,
Walk and sing your praises.

[liloleme]

Absolutely love it!
Left Barrow in 91 to emigrate to Oz, but Barrow will ALWAYS be home :)

[explorationuk]

Simply beautiful..im a guy from Glasgow living in Barrow-in-furness ..24 years now and these words resonate deep inside me ..thank you ..
Peace n love from Cumbria UK 🇬🇧 ❤️

[peteronawilliams]

Love this 😍 moved away in 96 but still love Our Barra n love coming home 4 visits

[wallacetrickett]

Nice promotional video .I left the town 42 years ago remembering the Barrow I grew up in. I promote its history in my radiobroadcasts in New Zealand .

[ianbannister]

This beautiful poem has moved me to tears I was born and raised in Barra I sadly moved in the early 90’s as per maggies cuts and slow close down of the shipyard to the midlands this poem evokes all the emotions and memories of my childhood my working class family from hindpool and of course the amazing people of barra beautiful gorgeous people had working highly skilled people intelligent switched on people and more importantly the most funniest people I have ever met in my life love the barra people their kindest and humour a barrovian through and through they need more barrovians in this world it would be a better place amen 😊

[SimonAmazingClarke]

Fantastic poetry and expressed sentiments. Although I wasn't born there, I did grow up there and is definitely my spiritual home. I haven't lived there in over four decades but it is somewhere that I like to visit now and again.

[gillianturner]

Absolutely fantastic, proud to be a 'Barra lass' the towns in a bit of trouble at the minute, but we'll fight back and regain the glory.

[stevemoonecovers]

A wonderful poem which has obviously been both written and narrated from the heart. Many moones ago when my proffession was a singer, it took me to a couple of venues in Barrow, the names of the venues escape me right now, but I remember the audiences were very appreciative. A Great Poem - Well Done!