Memories Of Market Drayton

A Memory of Market Drayton.

This once sleepy hamlet was first home to me,
a better place for childhood there could not be.
Little Drayton church and it`s `olde` Sunday school.
fishing excursions with Uncle to Buntingsdale pool,
Dalelands West; lucky dipbags, Reardon`s supplies,
Monday morning washdays, roller skates, blue skies.
With my `Dan Dare interplanetary telecommunications set,
boyhood dreams of space missions were regularly met,
as out on the backlawn, I pitched a tent,
connected to `base Earth`, on imaginary travels I went.
At number 1 Clifford road, aviation aspirations we had,
the flat roof would be our `Whirly bird heli` pad!`
The tup steps, Red bank, the slow moving Tern,
`bottom lane` where we roamed without due concern
the `stinky river`; stickleback captured in nets,
`cabbage white` ensnared too-dogs andrabbits for pets,
`Bob a job`house to house, all innocent fun,
and a pat on the back for a task well done.
`Short back and sides`at the little barber`s shop,
in Jug lane, Mr Bloar, my `thatch` would crop,
"Dad has already paid"(`twas just half a crown)
"So, off with your cap and sit yourself down."
Mum`s home made `hooch`got the neighbours `heady`,
(at parties, one sip, made their legs quite unsteady!)
Idyllic summers days at the local swimming baths,
at the grammar school, `swotting up` French, English and maths.
In Frogmore road, Miss Hewines, try would she,
to teach pianoforte to my sister and me.

These days of my youth, all too numorous to mention,
were filled with such happiness and much good intention.
Allen Warrender 4/4/1995.

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