| Profile : John Beeton | John Beeton was born and raised in West Bridgford before moving to Cotgrave in 1989. Having parents from The Meadows and working as a cabinet maker's apprentice in Nottingham in the 50s and 60s John says he grew up around Nottinghamese. Thirty years ago he read an article in the Nottingham Evening Post with lists of words spelt phonetically. He ended up cutting out the article and from that day onwards started adding words to the list. He says he now always walks around with a pen and notepad in his pocket, listening in to conversations for new words, he's even found himself following two old ladies around the Victoria Centre for 20 minutes on a mission to further his knowledge. John has now written several books on Nottinghamshire's local language. He says they are a homage to his parents. After they passed away he sent his list of words into BBC Radio Nottingham and they invited him in to appear on the show. For the occasion he produced a book for the presenter to browse through. When the show ended there was an influx of calls asking where listeners could get hold of a copy of the book so John thought he better supply the demand. He has now written four books on Nottinghamese and there's a fifth on the go. |
The true origin of the well-known Nottingham greeting 'Ay-up midduk' is probably lost in antiquity. 'Ay-up midduk' is as much part of Nottingham as the Castle Rock or the River Trent and probably just as old. When King Charles I raised his Standard in Nottingham in the 17th century, one of the locals probably greeted him with: "Ay-up midduk, weer yagooin' wee that flag?" The phrase probably originated as an affectionate term for young children or wives and girlfriends and people are apt to use a pet name as in "My little chicken, little bunny, or little duckling." It is more intimate and friendly than using their actual name. W.C. Fields was well known for his phrase: "My little Chickadee." It is then only a short step to 'my duckie,' or 'my duck,' when perhaps speaking to a member of one's family or a close friend, and 'Midduck' becomes the Nottinghamese shorthand equivalent. Nottingham people are innately friendly and tend not to stand on ceremony and their directness cuts across many social divides. 'Good morning /afternoon /evening' sounds very official and to call someone 'Sir' or 'Madam' or 'Miss,' is far too formal for your average Nottingham native, these forms of address are reserved for solicitor's letters or written pleas to bank managers. 'Midduk' and the commonly heard 'Madduck' are terms of warmth and friendship. A shopkeeper may not know the person entering his premises, or if that person is a regular, he may have forgotten their name, but a friendly ‘Ay-up Midduk' immediately establishes a rapport and business can be conducted in a friendly atmosphere. Its origins may be simple, but 'Ay-up midduk' is a community phrase, it is heard in pubs, clubs and corner shops throughout the county. It oils the wheels of life; it offers the hand of friendship and gathers people together in a kind of brotherhood. It may be classed as slang, but travel anywhere in this country, or abroad and if you meet Nottingham ex-pats, greet them with 'Ay-up midduk' and watch their faces light up. Slang it may be, but I know of no other two words that express kinship quite as well. Tarrah Midduk. John. --------------------------------------------------------------- Read 'The true story of Ay-Up Midduck' by Pete Davies, the Greatest Liar in the World, by clicking on the link in the top right hand corner of this page. | 
