The Black Country's largest big wheel has inspired a celebrated regional poet to pen a poem in its honour.

Former Worcester Poet Laureate, Fergus McGonigal, was invited by Dudley Libraries and 'Poetry on Loan' to visit the attraction in Stone Street Square.  

While there, as well as taking a ride on the 35 metre high attraction, the 46-year old spoke to fellow wheel tourists to get more insight into people’s thoughts about Dudley and their motivation for going on the wheel. 

Mr McGonigal said: 

“I immensely enjoyed visiting the wheel! I was struck by Dudley’s fantastic Georgian buildings and the bird’s eye view of what was clearly a medieval pattern of streets. 

“What surprised me most was that Dudley is surrounded by various hill ranges – that is not something that an outsider like me would associate with the town, but it is undeniably beautiful. 

“I had a great day out in Dudley and I’d recommend local people to visit the Eye while it is in town to get a different perspective on where they live.” 

Alan Lunt, strategic director at Dudley Council, said: 

“Fergus has written a fantastic poem that perfectly sums up Dudley’s character. 

"His keen eye has even picked out Top Church’s iron spire, which is reputed to have been one of the first buildings in the world to use cast iron and wood in the construction of its rafters.” 

Mr McGonigal, who is a former teacher, lives in Kidderminster.  His second book of poetry, aimed at children, will be published in April by Burning Eye Books. 

You can read his poem below.

The Dudley Eye, by Fergus McGonigal 

Come see the Ferris wheel in Stone Street Square,

A hundred feet and more up in the air!

A showpiece for this market town,

To take you up and round and round.

Providing views of simply everywhere.

Come see the Ferris wheel in Stone Street Square!

Then ride this whirling wheel, this DY Eye,

Whose machinations elevate on high,

To see such things as we admire,

Look there: Top Church’s iron spire!

You’ll catch the whole of Dudley moving by,

When riding on this giant DY Eye.

You’ll notice, from the comfort of your seat:

The pattern of each medieval street,

The Library, a Georgian square,

Freemason’s Arms, the Town Hall there!

This Dudley Eye’s a memorable treat,

Where history and modernism meet.

Black Country dreams of revolutions past,

But this wheel’s revolutions don’t move fast,

Her pace of quiet dynamo,

Will let you turn three times each go,

So get here soon – a month is all she’ll last:

The DY Eye, a Dudley bostin’ blast!