Harp Scratchings 2 - Bill Chicken

Bill Chicken was one of those colourful characters who appeared in the pub on a Saturday night. His rounds over, he was ready for a few laughs with the boys – and of course to deliver his last order – the Sunday Roast to the Harp which Dad often paid him for in the beverages of his choice.

Bill Price – known to his friends and neighbours as Bill Chicken – was Price the Butcher from Hay. The problem in Wales is that so many folk have the same surname and often the same first name. Hence Dad - Bill Price - was known as Bill the Harp.

Bill Chicken bore all the features of a true Welshman – short and stocky with dark hair. A gregarious character, he would swagger into the bar, slap Dad’s meat order down on the counter and enquire as to everyone’s health. Still in his butcher robes, complete with blood spattered apron, Bill would inhale that first pint and the performance would follow. Stories of people he had met on his rounds during the day, what they were doing, why they were doing it.

By the end of the evening, Bill would often venture out to his van and return with “something special” for Dad – either home made sausages or pork fry. And after closing time, Dad who was now salivating at the thought – and feeling the benefits of a few libations - would go to the kitchen, reach for a frying pan and cook up a midnight feast. At least that’s what I would call it, despite the inevitable indigestion that would follow!