John Kilbourn (3 August, 1838 — 16 June 1898) lived in Great Barr. Despite being self–taught, after leaving school early to join his father's basket–making business, his lectures on moral and social issues were very popular.
His most famous work was a sonnet:
'The Nightingale at Great Barr'
The sun is chambered in the distant west,
And night has spread her robes across the sky;
Nature is silent in expectancy,
And over all things lies the hush of rest.The stars above their faithful sentry keep;
I listen for the music of the spheres,
Said to re-echo through the eternal years,
But every earthly sound and whisper sleep.But hark! From out of the shadows comes a song,
So strangely sweet, that never was there wrought
such music out of human life or thought,
Nor earth's darkness do such notes belong.The song is heard; the singer hides from sight;
Hath not God promised music in the night?
Ref: Paul McDonald: 'John Kilbourn: The Great Barr Nightingale', in The Blackcountryman', Vol. 39, No. 2, ISSN 0006-4335; Spring 2006
