With thanks to Mike Clitherow
TANNERS AND BOBS
Back in the days of tanners and bobs,
When Mothers had
patience and Fathers had jobs.
When football team
families wore hand me down shoes,
And T.V gave only
two channels to choose.
Back in the days of
threepenny bits,
When schools
employed nurses to search for your nits.
When snowballs were
harmless; ice slides were permitted,
And all of your
jumpers were warm and hand knitted.
Back in the days of
hot ginger beers,
When children
remained so, for more than six years.
When children
respected what older folks said,
And pot was a thing
you kept under your bed.
Back in the days of
Listen with Mother,
When neighbours
were friendly and talked to each other.
When cars were so
rare you could play in the street.
When Doctors made
house calls; Police walked the beat.
Back in the days of
Milligan’s Goons,
When butter was
butter and songs all had tunes.
It was dumplings
for dinner and trifle for tea,
And your annual
break was a day by the sea.
Back in the days of
Dixon’s Dock Green,
Crackerjack pens
and Lyons ice cream.
When children could
freely wear National Health glasses,
And teachers all
stood at the FRONT of their classes.
Back in the days of
rocking and reeling,
When mobiles were
things that you hung from the ceiling.
When woodwork and
pottery got taught in schools,
And everyone dreamt
of a win on the pools.
Back in the days
when I was a lad,
I can’t help but
smile for the fun that I had.
Hopscotch and
roller skates; snowballs to lob.
Back in the days of
tanners and bobs.
