Hi there – for thirty years I have been traditionally hand-digging graves in the villages of Nottinghamshire / Lincolnshire.
I’m married; I live with my wife (Alison) and Wag the dog on the outskirts of Southwell, Nottinghamshire.
Next year I will be fifty (boo, hiss) -
I have published two books. `Tales of a Gravedigger’ / A Gravedigger’s Tales’
Dave + Shirl standing market in Newark – check out Lime Giraffe alternative clothing / printing at www.limegiraffe.co.uk
Alternative clothing from Darkside / Spiral - Slogan and funny t-shirts – Personalised gifts – Mugs, mouse mats and much, much more.
Close friends will know that for 25 years I have fronted Newark’s longest serving Punk band the Screaming Willies.
The current line-up features Ian Weird (vocals) – Matt Wallington (Drums) – Paul Shipley (Guitar) – Gary Jones (Bass) – Greg Pritchard (Bass)
Videos for 5 songs from the forthcoming album can now be viewed on You Tube – `Pogo Till You Puke / Harry the Bastard / Halloween / Shitty Shoe / Teds Only Have Quiffs` - You can also buy the new DVD entitled `Pogo Till You Puke` for £5 – e-mail me at weirdrecords@hotmail.com
Willies 2012 - New album `Unfinished Business` featuring 22 songs – Shooting more videos / Recording new songs including `Skeg-Vegas / I Don’t Dance`
New website for the band + Weird Records can now be found at www.thescreamingwillies.com – work still in progress on this.
Out now on WEIRD RECORDS (040)the NERKS `Greatest Hits Vol 1` CD album £5 post-paid
Saturday Jan 21st – Upton Churchyard (3,788), Notts – (126) – First ever visit – Rough day, wet and blowy – Tough dig – Glad to get home.
Wednesday Jan 25th – East Stoke churchyard (3,789) – soft but heavy – very, very wet.
Friday Jan 27th – Unusually quiet – Next Burial 8th February @ Coddington.
For good doggy merchandise check out www.4feet1tail.co.uk – you’d be barking not too..
Saturday Jan 21st – currently, laid in front of a roaring fire at my old home in Swinderby – Mum’s gone for a meal – Baldy’s eating Pizza (Gimme’ the crusts fatty) - Oh yeah, I got a new coat – great for those cold wet days!! – Hmm, it does make my ass look big (Ha Ha)….Bow wow for now.
Monday Jan 23rd – Got told off for eating horse-dung – currently, hiding in the tac-room keeping my head down – my breath smells of garlic!!
Friday Jan 27th – 8.a.m; Crikey,the builders are here already – I like Alan and his lads, they give me biscuits – There’s 3 of them today which equals at least three treats – I shall befriend them individually, to see what they’ve got me – Gotta go, my mate Patch is on the yard and I wouldn’t want him knicking my goodies….Greedy, No, not me!!!… – Off to Blidworth soon to watch some horse jumping…..Byeee.
March 16th 2011 – After 29 years and 3,008 digs I am no longer resident gravedigger at Newark Cemetery.
My first book `Tales of a Gravedigger` is now out of print – New artwork has been commissioned – 3rd edition, coming soon!
My second book `A Gravedigger’s Tales` is still in print – In stock, I have 18 paperback copies - Only £6.99 post-paid.
GraveTales.co.uk Under Construction
An all new gravetales website is currently under construction and development please return soon for new features, updates and the latest news.
All the best,
Ian Shipley