The Real Architect

Although the lyrics were inspired by the building of the Byker Wall, in every repect the sentiments, while reflecting a very bad period in the 60's for social housing, did not reflect the Byker Wall project itself nor the architect Ralph ErskineThe fact that I saw houses still occupied with what seemed like another monstrosity rising up adjacently reflected Ralph Erskine's socialist values...he kept the whole community together.. values instilled in him by his father who did not have a big estate but being a Presbyterian minister lived in a modest church house .Currently, 2008 the Byker Wall, loved by the tenants, is having a facelift...new bits of plastic and bitumastic...to extend its very successful life