Talk of the Town: Hamming it up in Great Britain

Oink! Oink!

In what they say is a last-ditch attempt to save Britain’s pork industry, dozens of pig farmers gathered in London last week, aiming for an Internet hit with their song “Stand by your Ham.”

According to our friends at Reuters, the song, to the tune of Tammy Wynette’s “Stand by Your Man” with a swine theme, is intended to alert the public to a sector that British farmers say is being pushed to extinction by greedy supermarket chains and rising feed prices.

“Stand by your ham,” runs the chorus. “Sausages, pork and bacon/Help us stay in business/Because our pigs are worth it/Stand by your ham.”

With little singing experience, but fuelled by enthusiasm for an English “fry up” breakfast (bacon, sausage, fried eggs (sunny side up) black pudding, fried bread, tomatoes, fried potatoes and a mushroom or two), the 20 to 30 farmers hope to rely on affection for traditional British pork products from pies to sausages.

“Stand by Your Ham” is available for download from the Web site www.pigsareworthit.com.

“It’s a lighthearted way of drawing attention to a very serious issue,” Yorkshire pig farmer Richard Longthorp said at the recording session.

“If this doesn’t stop, then as sure as eggs is eggs, the industry is going to disappear.”

The farmers say they lose more than 20 pounds ($39.09) a pig after unprecedented rises in feed prices fuelled by soaring global cereal prices due to higher fuel costs, competition from biofuels, increased demand from Asia and drought in Australia.

The National Pig Association says surveys show consumers are willing to pay more to keep a high-quality British pig farming?—which farmers say puts animal welfare first—in business. They want politicians to put pressure on retailers.

“Hopefully we will have a couple of stars,” said National Pig Association chairman Barney Kay, who penned the alternate words. “I don’t think we’ll be at the Brits (the English pop music awards) next year but you never know.” American Idol contestants—watch out!

Bill Roberts, 80, a 13-year resident of Green Valley, retired from the Baltimore Colts after 7-1/2 years as ticket manager. Prior to that he worked for the Baltimore Orioles for 23 years and is darn proud to say so because he owns a World Series ring, the result of the 1966 World Series big win.

The 1966 World Series matched the Baltimore Orioles against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Orioles sweeping the Series in four games to capture the first championship in franchise history.

Besides having Bill’s name on the ring, it also features a baseball glove on one side and a baseball with the “Orioles” name printed across.

“Including the players, everyone who had anything to do with the Orioles that year got the rings,” Bill said.

Bill also had a ring from the Orioles win in 1970, which he gave to his son-in-law who later passed it on to his son.

“He treasures it,” Bill said.

That ring featured both the upper and lower decks of the Orioles baseball stadium.

The 1970 World Series matched the American League champion Baltimore Orioles against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds, with the Orioles winning in five games.

Which player does Bill really remember as being considered “a great.”

Brooks Robinson, a third base player who played his entire 23-year career for the Orioles is one of Bill’s favorites. Robinson is also in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bill says he’s still an avid baseball fan. I asked him who his favorite team is now.

“The Diamondbacks, of course!” he said with a chuckle.

Public television is very popular in Green Valley and the surrounding areas, and Green Valley resident Roberta Konen, who also volunteers for the KUAT board of directors, is helping KUAT make its annual financial commitments to PBS so it can purchase a new season’s worth of spectacular public television programs.

Contributions will help KUAT acquire programs from PBS and will fund KUAT’s outstanding local series including “Arizona Illustrated,” “The Desert Speaks,” “Art/,” and special KUAT productions. The majority of KUAT-TV’s revenue comes from local community support.

News staff of the Green Valley News and Sun appear frequently on KUAT’s “Arizona Illustrated” with Bill Buckmaster, discussing the issues of the day.

KUAT’s greatest source of new support comes from their on-air membership drives and, with the community’s help, the Challenge Grant program has become one of the most effective ways to encourage non-contributing viewers to join KUAT.

Channel 6’s March on-air campaign began Feb. 28 and runs through March 16.

Roberta will be on the air taking pledges from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. March 9 during the “Three Tenors” program.

The pledge telephone number is 621-1600.

Civic, business and community groups are especially encouraged to appear “live” on Channel 6, in support of KUAT while spreading the good word about their organizations.

Pledge shifts are for four hours and occur on weeknights and weekends.

Help bring the world into every home! Public television delivers quality programming in news, the arts, nature, travel, science, discovery and more from around the globe. Gather some friends or colleagues to join the team of staff, local personalities and interesting volunteers to support KUAT Channel 6.

Volunteers participate in a brief training/orientation at the beginning of their shift. Training covers basic phone and computer skills necessary for successfully taking donor information. Free parking and light refreshments are provided.

For more information you can call Roberta Konen at 625-8070 or to schedule a shift, contact Erin Deely, volunteer and community events coordinator at (520) 626-3383.

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740