SONGS FROM THE GOOD SHIP LACONIC

by Robert Cole

The word “deadpan” might have been invented to describe the humour Simon Palmer sprinkled between the sea shanties, jigs and reels he, as Commander Si, sang with Jasper Nautical, his son. The duo floated a small navy of songs into the Hillyfields evening from as far as Romania, the west of Ireland and Wickham Road. Passing round the hat, Simon said they were saving up to buy a boat. I think that was a joke but I’m not sure. Such is life on the SS Laconic.