Charlie Williams.

Born in Royston.

Worked down the pit. 150 games for Donny.

Turned racism back on itself IMO. He was well ahead of the curve. I'm surprised he isn't remembered better in our town.



Just a random clip of YouTube, tbh. He probably did better sets, but reminds me of seeing a black guy speaking "tarn" accent on national TV. No one seems to speak about it though. Whether his jokes were great is debatable, but to a achieve what he did was out of the box at the time. You could not want to give the bloke a hug, or a high five.

 

Worth a listen: Ian McMillan 'Looking for Charlie Williams' link

 

My brother in laws dad was his image

 

Thank you. Will give this a listen tonight.

 

...and spookily this great pic of him playing for Doncaster popped up on my facebook feed today from the 'English Football in the 1930's/40's/50's' page link

 

Early 1970's, I was a kid, played golf at Barnsley Muni. Playing one evening, no one else around and Charlie rocks up and asks if he could join me. We played the loop, 1-3, 13-18, he cracked jokes all the time, just enjoyed laughter and being happy. I treasure that hour or so.

 

Think Dearne FM when it was around used to play That's what I shoulda said quite regularly

 

Grandfavva showed me him a few years back, to this day I’m sure he believes he’s still one of the best comedians that he had seen.

 

Makes me laugh more how much he laughs at his own jokes, love it

 

Saw him several times. He used to own the welcome inn in (former barber st wmc. probably gone now) very funny man. lived at Birdwell/Pilley border.

 

Thanks for that I really enjoyed it, Ian McMillan is a top story teller.

 

Always loved this clip of him. Watch from about 1.30 for his Mandela gag.

 

There used to be a Greek restaurant in Barnsley in the old railway viaduct above the bus station. We went one night and got put at the next table to Charlie and his party. He was cracking jokes all night. A fabulous character. I particularly liked his opinion of himself as a centre-half: “Ah couldn’t laik football, but ah could stop them as those they could.” Much missed.

 

I met him a few times, a very funny man...I see his son occasionally I think he lives in Worbrough Dale

 

Charlie is enjoying his repose in the cemetary at the Worsbro Village Church. I say hello every coupla years or so when I visit a few of me forebears nearby.

 

“ Eeeh I’ve had some laughs “

 

Let's face it been a black man in that era must have been horrendous his way to deflect it was humour,can't think of a better way. Ground breaker, what a man a professional footballer and then went on to make people laugh for a living. That twinkle it is eye when knew he was going to get a laugh priceless.

 

Thanks mate, I enjoyed that. Charlie Williams, legend.

 

At the risk of being a bit out there and edgy - and massive respect to him for being so groundbreaking and subverting so much prejudice at the time, what an incredible man - but fuuck me comedy was proper shït back then. Jesus Christ that set is baaaadddd.