I used to live in Oldham in the 1980’s and in various parts of the town was scrawled graffiti… there was graffiti everywhere, obviously, but here and there in red or blue were the words

I LOVE YOU JACKIE HANNAN!

I wonder who she was, Jackie Hannan? Did her admirer actually know her, or was he a secret admirer? Was it a proposal, were they already an item, maybe engaged, maybe even married and he was celebrating the fact? Was she pleased, was she embarrassed, was she furious every time she saw the words scrawled in huge letters across impossible surfaces?

I wonder if there is an ‘I love you Jackie Hannan’ still faintly visible somewhere, I wonder if the admire found happiness with her, or if she found happiness with someone else?

I hope they found true love, I hope they got together and had a family, I hope they look back and laugh with an affectionate memory of the words, I hope they tell their children and grandchildren about it…