There were only two entries in the Poetry section of the Show on Saturday 9th September. The two categories were a poem or limerick about Woolton and a poem or limerick about the 60s. So the two winners won First, Second and Third prize certificates! Well done ladies. There has been a request to put the poems on this website for everyone to read if they wish....so here goes. Jan wrote the 60s poem and Liz the Woolton one.
Chestnut Grove circa 63
I don't really remember the 60s
I was only a child you see
I wasn't even born
Until October 63
We all lived with my Nana then
In a big house on Chestnut Grove
Us kids could play out in the street
Cos then - hardly anybody drove
We were right opposite St James's
I used to go and play with me pram
In the lovely lawn by "Our Lady"
Til Father Noonan shouted "scram"
We were all terrified of that priest
He was big and dressed all in black
But we all did as he told us
Or me Nan would give us a whack!
There was a diddy shop called "Jacks"
But you could get everything there
Me Nan used to send us for 2 'looseys'
No ciggies and she was a grumpy mare.
Me Grandad, was a docker and my hero
But he was always up to some scam
'Acquiring" something or other
Usually paint or a leg of lamb
We'd meet him from work on Fridays
On the dock road in the Irish club
He'd give us sweets and me Nan’s wages
Otherwise he'd spend all that in the pub
He loved salt fish on a Sunday
Me Nana would soak it in the sink
We'd all look forward to some after mass
But God it made the house stink!
I loved that great old house
But it had two scary attics and a cellar
I was dead brave the first time I saw the attic
(Cos I was with our Betty and her fella)
It was really amazing up there though
And in the light not that scary at all
There was all kinds of stuff to play with
I'd sneak up there sometimes and have a ball
We had a great big garden too
It backed on to the timber yard
We had a dog called Lester and Peewack the cat
Such great times then though times were hard
"St Jimmy's' school was just up the road
I started there in 1968
We got cartons of milk at play time!
I LOVED that school it was great
I was allowed to go home for me dinner
Me Nan would let me watch Peyton Place
We'd always forget the time though
Getting back to school was always a race
We moved out of me Nan’s in 69
Up the road to a new maisonette
Me mam thought it was posh but I hated it
No Nana! we couldn’t even have a pet!
So that was my 60s
Actually remembered more than I thought
Precious memories of me Nan and Chesey Grove
The sorts of treasures that can’t be bought!
HAVE YOU HEARD OF WOOLTON?
Have you heard of Woolton? the village in the Pool?
It’s out of the city, but it’s still very cool
With its shops and its banks, its houses and parks
Its schools and its history and famous landmarks.
Have you heard of the churches? Do you know their names?
St Peter’s, St Mary’s and down the hill St James.
All built of sandstone, from local small quarries
That was first carried out by horse drawn lorries.
Have you heard of the Beatles? They first met right here
In St Peter’s Church Hall, for they all lived quite near.
It was the church fete, that auspicious of days
Changed the Quarrymen to Beatles, as everyone says.
Have you heard of the parks? Open spaces we share,
Clark Gardens, Woolton Woods, Camp Hill are all there,
Lovely Reynolds Park and Allerton Towers
Left to the city and now are all ours.
Have you heard of the flowers? The village is bedecked
All the year round with colours looking perfect
Created and planted by Woolton in Bloom
To brighten the village, taking us out of the gloom.
Have you heard of the cafes? We’ve got quite a few
Where folk meet for coffees and a pastry or two
There are restaurants too and pubs for a drink
No end of choice where you can sit and think.
Have you heard of WI? There are two groups right here!
Woolton Wanderers, a new group, began just this year.
WOW Women of Woolton is coming up for five
That’s how long this group’s been alive.
Have you heard of the people? Wooltonians we’re called
Some born here, some moved here by the village enthralled
The village is fascinating with interest all round
But the people are how our Woolton is crowned.
Chestnut Grove circa 63
I don't really remember the 60s
I was only a child you see
I wasn't even born
Until October 63
We all lived with my Nana then
In a big house on Chestnut Grove
Us kids could play out in the street
Cos then - hardly anybody drove
We were right opposite St James's
I used to go and play with me pram
In the lovely lawn by "Our Lady"
Til Father Noonan shouted "scram"
We were all terrified of that priest
He was big and dressed all in black
But we all did as he told us
Or me Nan would give us a whack!
There was a diddy shop called "Jacks"
But you could get everything there
Me Nan used to send us for 2 'looseys'
No ciggies and she was a grumpy mare.
Me Grandad, was a docker and my hero
But he was always up to some scam
'Acquiring" something or other
Usually paint or a leg of lamb
We'd meet him from work on Fridays
On the dock road in the Irish club
He'd give us sweets and me Nan’s wages
Otherwise he'd spend all that in the pub
He loved salt fish on a Sunday
Me Nana would soak it in the sink
We'd all look forward to some after mass
But God it made the house stink!
I loved that great old house
But it had two scary attics and a cellar
I was dead brave the first time I saw the attic
(Cos I was with our Betty and her fella)
It was really amazing up there though
And in the light not that scary at all
There was all kinds of stuff to play with
I'd sneak up there sometimes and have a ball
We had a great big garden too
It backed on to the timber yard
We had a dog called Lester and Peewack the cat
Such great times then though times were hard
"St Jimmy's' school was just up the road
I started there in 1968
We got cartons of milk at play time!
I LOVED that school it was great
I was allowed to go home for me dinner
Me Nan would let me watch Peyton Place
We'd always forget the time though
Getting back to school was always a race
We moved out of me Nan’s in 69
Up the road to a new maisonette
Me mam thought it was posh but I hated it
No Nana! we couldn’t even have a pet!
So that was my 60s
Actually remembered more than I thought
Precious memories of me Nan and Chesey Grove
The sorts of treasures that can’t be bought!
HAVE YOU HEARD OF WOOLTON?
Have you heard of Woolton? the village in the Pool?
It’s out of the city, but it’s still very cool
With its shops and its banks, its houses and parks
Its schools and its history and famous landmarks.
Have you heard of the churches? Do you know their names?
St Peter’s, St Mary’s and down the hill St James.
All built of sandstone, from local small quarries
That was first carried out by horse drawn lorries.
Have you heard of the Beatles? They first met right here
In St Peter’s Church Hall, for they all lived quite near.
It was the church fete, that auspicious of days
Changed the Quarrymen to Beatles, as everyone says.
Have you heard of the parks? Open spaces we share,
Clark Gardens, Woolton Woods, Camp Hill are all there,
Lovely Reynolds Park and Allerton Towers
Left to the city and now are all ours.
Have you heard of the flowers? The village is bedecked
All the year round with colours looking perfect
Created and planted by Woolton in Bloom
To brighten the village, taking us out of the gloom.
Have you heard of the cafes? We’ve got quite a few
Where folk meet for coffees and a pastry or two
There are restaurants too and pubs for a drink
No end of choice where you can sit and think.
Have you heard of WI? There are two groups right here!
Woolton Wanderers, a new group, began just this year.
WOW Women of Woolton is coming up for five
That’s how long this group’s been alive.
Have you heard of the people? Wooltonians we’re called
Some born here, some moved here by the village enthralled
The village is fascinating with interest all round
But the people are how our Woolton is crowned.
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