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The Bangla beat

1/ 1/2003

AN Oldham beat bobby has been inspired by the local Bangladeshi community to write poems about life in the streets of Westwood.

PC Phil Buckley or 'bondhu' (friend), as some of the locals like to call him has been a beat bobby in Westwood for over 12 years.

He is the town's 10,000 strong Bangladeshi community's favourite copper, he speaks good Bangla, is taking a degree in Islamic Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University and has visited Bangladesh threetimes.

He was due to go again in October with a delegation from Oldham for a sponsored bike ride across country but delays in his visa meant the trip had to be cancelled.

This disappointment spurred Phil to write a poem. This first creative leap stimulated more reflection on life in verse - he will soon have enough for a slim volume.

Said Phil: "My poem was read out to people who made a recent visit to Bangladesh and I'm told everyone liked it so I wrote several more. When I realised I couldn't go to the trip I was gutted as I had been looking forward to it for months.

"I guess I had to write down how I felt and so I penned my first poem. I have now written about my visits to Bangladesh and about life as a police officer in Oldham. I love working with the Bangladeshi community and I have learnt so much from. I have made many friends and they have all been an inspiration when it came to writing these poems."

Phil has shown his poems to locals in Westwood who think he should carry on with his writing. He says he feels "kubb kubb kushee" - very, very happy - about his work.

Here are one of Phil's favourite poems:

'I've been a copper for 25 years, and although I'm tough I've seen a few tears.

I've walked the beat on Chadderton Way through B.F (Bangla Fara) nearly everyday.

Featherstall Rd is the place for a curry,

Take it easy why do you hurry?

In the past 12 years I've learned plenty,

I now speak Bangla from 1 to 20.

Whether your bala manush or a bit of a gunda,

I'll talk to you and make you wonder.

Ame fulish, amar nam Phil Buckley,

What can I hear what can I see?

Working in Westwood has changed my life,

Some people say I've changed my wife.

Sometime amee kushi, sometime amee sad,

You'd better watch out if your big and bad."