THE owner of a Crewe construction company has built up a following on social media as a poet after penning his first verse at the height of the pandemic.

Gareth Williams, managing director of Construction Linx, has gained thousands of views of his street poetry performed on Facebook and his new YouTube channel.

The father-of-two discovered his new-found talent while doodling a few words about the 75th anniversary of VE day in May when lockdown forced street parties to be cancelled.

He said: "I was touched by the way the nation found other ways to celebrate. Adorning their homes in Union Jacks and standing to salute fallen heroes. From that came a verse, 'An Opportunity for Community', and to raise spirits I plucked up the courage to share it on social media.

"The response was tremendous so I decided to carry on. People were really surprised and remarked on me having a hidden talent. But I've always appreciated language and the whole mood of the country, in its joint fight against Covid, just helped the words flow."

Buoyed by the fantastic responses, Gareth, 39, has gone on to perform 15 poems, some taking a humorous look at his life such as 'Fat Lad at The Back' looking back at his journey to fitness and current campaign to run the length of Land's End to John O'Groats by his 40th birthday in September, notching up several local lockdown miles a week.

Others have looked at home-schooling ('Nervous Parents Evening Looming'), lockdown anxiety ('Bar Stool Blues'), the tense weeks before Christmas 2020 ('Oven Ready'), and there have been special requests – a Valentine's day ditty for Cat Radio, and a marketing commission for Nantwich traders which hit 16,000 views.

Gareth, who is Crewe born and bred, added: "The first poem was a sudden urge to write something. Then the rhymes couldn't stop flowing. I'm driven by the thrill and fun of playing with words to create verses which really speak to people.

"I know I am blessed with a good business, beautiful wife and two wonderful boys. Certainly these troubled times have made me count my blessings and look ahead with positivity.

"A common theme in my poetry is that they are often whimsical but with it, full of passion. I hope to offer a certain level of introspection as well as inspiration that have underlined my happy-go-lucky and optimistic outlook on life."

Gareth has stepped into the spotlight as an award-winner scooping the South Chamber of Commerce Young Business Person of the Year in 2005, Best Small Business in 2015 and Excellence in Customer Service in 2019.

His business, based on Crewe Hall Enterprise Park, specialises in construction, building maintenance, refurbishment and facilities management. At the pandemic outset, he moved swiftly to introduce new deep cleansing services and increase his workforce to 12 including admin and trade.

To see Gareth perform his rhymes, 'Life Poetry About You', go to Facebook or his YouTube channel here.

Gareth will be launching a website soon to showcase his work at www.lifepoemsaboutyou.co.uk