One of Tommy’s unfinished racing paintings that was on his easel when he died.
When All is Said and Dun
Poem by Tommy Daniel
I found the words of this philosophical dialect poem, scribbled on a sheet of paper, amongst the original manuscripts, papers and other bits of paraphernalia I managed to save from being burnt, on the day I learnt of Tommy’s death in April 1970.
I had been off work sick at the time, and hadn't been able to visit Tommy at his new bungalow at Staincliffe for a couple off weeks. Feeling better, I decided to pay him a visit, to see how he was.
When I arrived, I went round the back of the house and was confronted by a couple who were busy sorting through, and burning all of Tommy’s papers. They enquired who was I and what did I want? I told them I was a friend of his, and I'd come to see how he was. I was shocked to be told “You’ve come too late he’s dead!” They asked if I knew if he had any insurance policies, I replied I’d no idea, but I doubted it. They told me I could have any of his old papers if I wanted them, and that’s how I managed to acquire them. I had never heard this poem performed and don’t know when Tommy wrote it, but it seemed a fitting finale.
