‘A story about an old Mancunian homeless man looking back on better days . I painted this scene of Shudehill with views looking onto the rear of the Manchester Arndale Centre near the Shudehill exchange. I like this view and I used to ride my motorbike past here everyday to go to work and I love the old and new buildings and the area is steeped in history.’

Streets of Shudehill Manchester by night,

At the back of the Arndale,

Trams passing by,

an old guy,

he’s seen some history over the years,

plenty of beers and cheers,

in the Lower Turks Head,

a regular punter of Manchester pubs,

been on pub crawls most of his life,

he had a life,

a proper Mancunian,

trudgin the streets to a Manchester beat,

yeah it’s the end of the night,

no pandemic is to be seen,

in this Manchester scene,

it’s all a memory for  this Mancunian man,

thinking back when days were better,

freedom of movement,

pubs all open,

fun and laughter with his mates,

putting the world to rights with no fights,

but now he’s trudgin the streets at night,

a homeless night awaits,

cos he’s lost his job and home,

he’s got no phone,

lookin for his home,

a shop doorway awaits,

wishes he could turn back time to a better day  in his heyday,

yeah he’s a Mancunian Man,

on the streets of Shudehill Manchester by night,

help him tonight

Listen to Andrew Alan Matthews poem