'I'm a Black Country wench and proud': But local legend Our Trace admits to speaking with a northern twang on occasions ahead of Black Country Day - here's why
Ahead of our celebrations of Black Country Day we sat down to speak to bostin' Black Country performer Our Trace about what the region means to her.
Tracey Rhodes, better known under her stage name 'Our Trace,' is a well-known comedienne who performs concerts and shows all over the West Midlands and bills herself as having appeared on TV and CCTV.
Originally from Four Ashes in South Staffordshire, Tracey grew up in Short Heath, Walsall, and recalled her fond memories of growing up a stones throw away from Rough Wood Country Park.
"Society has changed a lot since I was growing up around here," the comedienne said. "The independence that I had as a child, being able to go (to) the shops on my own, and then to Rough Wood, because I lived in Short Heath I did.
"My mum and dad used to let me go to Rough Wood with a couple of mates, and I know you wouldn't get this with health and safety these days but we used to skate on the canal when it was frozen.
"That's what I remember, the massive independence that we had as children, which you can't have as much today can you?
"You wouldn't let your kid out on their own now, but I was young - maybe about 10 - when my mum used to let me go out playing around the back estate or in the woods because it was safe.
"We had good old family values. Those are my memories and I'm very lucky to have them.
"My dad grew bedding plants and tomatoes, and he'd sell them for about 10 pence.
"The money was used to take us to Skegness, and I think just about everyone went to Butlins Skegness in the 60's day they."
'Sometimes I speak with a northern twang'
Tracey now travels up and down the country performing spots to fans from all parts of the UK, which - given her strong Black Country accent - could have led to some jokes being lost in translation on the road.
However, she revealed that possibility came to her attention as a youngster on the West Midlands pantomime circuit, and she devised a cunning plan to ensure her jokes were understood everywhere she went.
"From day one it was the northern accent," she explained. "I used to do a lot of amateur dramatics in Willenhall and each year we did a comedy and a panto. Whatever character I was lucky enough to be cast as I'd always use a bit of an accent to get myself into character.
"Our Trace is a character, so I don't talk like this as Our Trace, I talk with a bit of a northern accent.
"The reason for that, and I'm not being detrimental to our accent here, is it can't be understood the further out the Midlands you go.
"You have to talk slower, so to make it easier for everybody I use a little bit of a northern twang.
"On Monday we did Wednesbury Town Hall, and when I did my spot an old dear came up to me and asked me whereabouts I'm from up north.
"I says to her: 'I ay cock, I'm a black country wench! What you saw on stage was a character.' She couldn't believe it.
"I was born in Willenhall, my husband Terry was born in Bradley, and we are so proud of our Black Country heritage, and also ultra proud to be yam-yams."
