26.11.03 THE PRIDE OF THE ROMANIES Joe is extremely proud of his Romany ancestry. "If everything ended in showbusiness for me, I could easily go back to the traditional Romany life tomorrow without any problem. I love the independence and simplicity of the life; the free spirit. Yet, by being in showbusiness, I suppose I am carrying on the Romany lifetstyle in a modern way, travelling the world performing. They do say that all entertainers are gypsies!". "Romanies love to travel. It's in their blood...and they are all showmen in their own way, in whatever they choose to do with their life. It's something you cannot be taught; it's instinct, a feeling. What I am doing on stage is being true to those traditions. To use a Romany expression, I'm duckering; I am giving myself to my audience, selling myself and my 'wares' If you like, and that's something that has been with me all my life...it's inbred. It's a natural feeling". The Romany traditions extend further. Joe can speak fluent Romany (or cant) and is an expert in the universal language of the gypsies. "I can speak cant or Romany and converse quite freely with other Romany people," he admits. "Although there is one language, there are many different dialects and variations of words. People from the North of England speak a different form of Romany to those in the South - different words mean different things. Speaking Romany is something we are taught at an early age along with the native tongue of the country we live in." Interestingly enough, several Romany words have found their way into the English language and are in everyday use today, the most common being the word 'dad'. Romanies can communicate with each other no matter where they come from. IRISH TINKERS "My Romany roots are very deep" Joe adds, "and I'm fascinated to find out more about my family background. We go back a long way, I do know that the family is descended from Irish tinkers, from my mother and father's side. Indeed, 'Longthorne' is an Irish name and my mother's maiden name, 'Geraghty' also hails from Ireland. So the Irish connection is very strong. They do say that gypsy people originated in India and travelled the world for many, many years settling throughout Europe by the mid 15th Century. When they first arrived on the continent, legend has it that they called themselves 'Egyptians', which was later shortened to 'gypsies'. It was only as recently as this century, however, that Romanies ventured into North and South America and then into Australia". back to top "My parents own families come over from Ireland to England many years ago and both my mother and father were born here. They were very young when they married." FORTUNE TELLER "The family were travelling folk who toured the country in trailers, eking out a living for themselves. My parents visited race meetings, festivals and fairgrounds where my father would pitch his sideshows and sell his wares. My mother used to sing and entertain the punters and later became one of the famous Carroll Levis discoveries. She was good, very good indeed. My great-grandmother, Lena Wilson who travelled with them told fortunes. So it was a working family. Just before the Second World War, however, like many other Romany families, they settled down and chose Yorkshire to make their home. Although they moved out of trailers and into houses (or to use the Romany word 'kens'), they never desserted their traditional Romany culture and values. All the children were brought up and schooled in this way. Once a Romany, always a Romany! All that changed was the roof over their heads. In the summer they were back on the road travelling. The wanderlust was as strong as ever". SCHOOLING "I had a very stable background even though I went to eight different schools because of our travelling. Schooling, however was not as important to me as the education I received from the family. Here I was taught about Romany culture and tradition; the history and ancestry. The family's opinions and Romany philosophy on life was of far more value to me than anything I learned in the classroom". BOW-TOPPED WAGONS "My father was a great showman and a terrific salesman. He still is...it's a Romany trait. He was good with horses too and at one time traded in them. We kept horses for many years. Gypsies are renowned horsemen and traders because over the years they have needed to be. Their horses earned them a shilling or two in many ways. In the early days, they pulled the bow-topped wagons and incidentally, authentic full-stock gypsies who still travel the road today in bow-tops, pulled by horses, are known as black-faced Romanies." back to top PRIZE FIGHTER "Before the advent of veterinary medicines, many farmers looked to gypsy livestock dealers and herdsmen for advice on animal welfare. Gypsies were the farmers' friends. They worked on the land; and with the animals. They helped with the harvesting; and repaired fences and barns during the various seasons and then moved on. Gypsies have also found employment as mechanics, builders, brick-layers and roadworkers. They have moved into travelling circuses and fairs. My uncle, 'Tug' Wilson, was a great prize-fighting boxer who worked the fairgrounds for many years". As Joe is quick to point out, Romany gypsies have been much maligned throughout history...mainly because they have refused to compromise their culture and traditions, and to conform to society. They are fiercly independent and many people find their ways hard to understand. STORY-TELLERS "True Romanies are great story-tellers and superb psycologists. They have great patience and can sit down and talk to people and try and ease their problems. They are very good counsellors". "Entertainment has always played a major part in Romany life. We are all entertainers. Gypsies had to make their own entertainment through the ages and through necessity, great musicians, great performers and great singers emerged". "I first started singing when I was very young. It was a natural thing to do. It was in my blood and I would entertain anyone who would listen to me. I used to busk on the streets before finally breaking into showbusiness proffessionally. All the time, I was using my Romany instincts for 'duckering' to help me...my roots are never far away." back to top back to top site design_navajo media