Heath Family

Freemen of the City

From the bedroom window,
When we lived in Serlo Road,
We could see the tall Cathedral,
Imposing tower so old

The Norman's, they did build it,
Majestic and so grand;
We later did discover,
A HEATH owned part of the land

Freeman of the City,
Since the days of yore,
We found a sergeant Hanbury Heath
Fought in the civil war

John and Sam and Edwards,
And some were just plain Ted,
We found the names and that was how
The roll of Freemen read

Since the 11th century,
When it was first begun,
The Freeman title has been passed
From father unto son

 

The Rooster

Granddad had a rooster
Big and strong and wild,
And if you dared go near his hens
He really did get riled.
He'd fly up and attack you,
And give you such a fright.
The only person he'd accept
Was Granddad Albert Knight.

One day young Les tried to deceive
by dressing in disguise.
He put on Granddad's jacket,
but that rooster was too wise,
Attacking Les with fury,
It's funny to relate.
'Cause throwing caution to the winds
Les leapt a 5 bar gate.

The story goes, that brother Bill,
When taken by surprise
Did with a shout, give "Roost" a clout,
Which led to his demise.

Old Friends

To Frampton Lake on Tuesdays,
Driving down the lanes,
Ted and Reg go fishing,
Friends from their schooldays.
Although now over eighty,
With memories a 'plenty',
Remembering those happy days
Their hearts are one and twenty.

The Rations

Granddad Knight stands at the door,
Looking left o'er Westgate Bridge.
It's wartime now with rations due,
And luxuries they are so few.
Young "Mush" - that's grandson Alan Knight, So small, so willing, and so bright, Appears, sometimes with brother Ken, To shop for Gramp and Uncle Len.
"Mush" knows each coupon in the book,
When he gets to the shop,
He understands the rations more
That staff at the Co-op.

Brother Les

When brother Leslie comes to call,
He cheers us up with tales so tall.
A joke or two, or even three,
There's always much hilarity.
He does odd jobs for sister Else,
A lick of paint, or mends a shelf
And all the while a 'whistling he,
So full of personality.
His wit abounds, amusing all,
When brother Leslie comes to call.
 

Rambling to Ashleworth Quay

Through Wainlodes on to Hasfield,
Down the bottom road,
Aud and Ted go rambling,
'Singing' as they go.
A stop to feed the donkeys
In Dr. Barnes's field,
Then down the lane to go and see
The friends at Ashleworth Quay.
Renee, Sybil, Horace, Jim
And 'Brandy' too,
A welcome at The Boat Inn
Is always there for you.

Sunday Visiting
---------------

In their young days my cousins went,
Dressed in their Sunday best,
To visit Granddad - Albert Knight,
Around The Quay, down West.

And on those Sunday mornings,
In lower Westgate Street,
Granddad Knight made custard,
A cupful was a treat.

The years go by so quickly,
But memories stay clear.
Thos happy days of childhood,
So fleeting and so dear.

"Sylvery"

Sylvia's a favourite niece,
She's had a lot of learning.
And when her mind's made up, you know,
The lady's not for turning.

Articulate and Erudite,
But quite without ambition.
A pity 'cause' she'd really make
A first class politician.

In court, such poise, no-one would dare
To faze her, or harass her.
They'd soon get cross-examined,
'Cause she's like a lady BARRISTER.

Home on Leave - 1942

Home on leave comes Gunner Ted.
I'm staying up, can't think of bed.
He's my soldier DAD, you see,
He's in the Royal Artillery.
I'm 9 years old, and he to me
Will always a great hero be,
Always gentle, kind is he;
Nothing is too good for me.
I've been spoiled, an only one,
He thinks none like me, 'neath the sun.
Kitten, puppies, pets for me,
We all love animals, you see.
Dad has such love for Mum and me,
We're very close, we happy three.

Elsie May

When Elsie May was young and strong
At home she had to be.
To work with Mother in the house,
To help the family.
When she was only sweet sixteen,
She met her sweetheart Ted;
And then when she was twenty
She and Ted were wed.
At first they lived in Alvin Street
And later they did go
To their next home, a newly built
House in Serlo Road.
Then, in 1940, Ted went off to War
And on return they stayed there
For 15 years or more.
After that their final move
Was to a bungalow,
Where they had their Golden Wedding in 1981.
 

Grandfather Heath and Old Tom

Looking back I oft recall,
The house where I was born.
A tall 3 storey building,
Number 34.

In bygone days, it used to be,
A business, fish and fruit.
Then TED HEATH SENIOR was there
In cap and riding boots.

With horse and cart he used to trot.
A selling round the lanes,
Imbibing cider now and then,
With OLD TOM in the reins.

Then at "The Boat" with Mr. Jelf
He'd cross on river ferry,
And Tom would take him safely home,
The driver was too merry.

Old Tome was once arrested,
Down in Westgate Street.
Unconscious was the driver,
With cider quite replete.

Son Ted with sister Doris
Would sometimes ride Old Tom
From out along the causeway,
To home with great aplomb.

I strolled down Alvin St. one day
To look for 34,
Remembering early childhood,
But the house was there no more.

Cousins

From Tudor St. o'er Hempsted Bridge
With Iris, Rose and John,
Off we go, young cousins,
Rambling on and on.

Baby Pat is left at home,
Too young for us to take.
We're singing as we roam along,
It's quite a noise we make.

We sing the songs of yesteryear,
The notes they trill and soar,
"Far better in a home we'd be"
And "Gonna rain no more".

Iris has the better voice,
It's strong and well in tune.
We should be off to Hollywood
For fame and fortune soon.

She also sings "Woodpecker"
At Southgate St. Youth Club.
While Aud plays the piano
We'd sound well in the pub.

Iris warbles sweet and low,
But listeners should beware,
'Cause Aud on the piano
Plays a bum note here and there.

We act out "Stella Dallas"'
A film that we've all seen.
With all the talent that we have
We'll grace the silver screen.

We'll star in some big epic,
It will be such a thrill
When we receive out contracts
From Cecil B. De. Mille.

With leading men so famous,
Clarke Gable. Alan Ladd.
We'll earn a million dollars
That really can't be bad.

Our friends will come and see us
Up there upon the screen
And ask us for our autographs,
Such beauty seldom seen.

Perhaps its just a fantasy,
Daydreaming as we do,
But we like to imagine
That one day it may come true.

So back we go to Tudor St,
Back to reality,
To Auntie, Uncle, Baby Pat,
Just home in time for tea.

 

For Ted : Remembrance

The Birdsong at Morn
You loved so well
And all God's creatures too,
Wild flowers and music and country lanes Are all a part of you.
Oh, how I miss your loving ways,
Your patience and good humour.
Time has not healed my aching heart,
Remembering you for ever.
 

In the Bluebell Copse, Hasfield

In the soothing shade
Of woods so quiet and green,
The breeze comes murmuring gently,
Just as in a dream,
I know he's gone yet still the same,
I hear him softly breathe my name.

Ted's Music

A love of music is a joy.
Ted's loved the classics since a boy.
He know them all, composers too;
He 'sings' an aria or two,
But music he cannot create.
Although he does appreciate
Rhapsodies and Serenades
By Schubert, Brahms, loved for decades
An old fashioned waltz by Johann Strauss Reverberates throughout the house.
A Chopin Nocturne's sure to soothe,
There's melodies for every mood.
First thing in the morning,
While Ted is sipping Tea
And birds watched through his window
Do chirrup merrily,
His favourite piece is playing,
The one he wouldn't miss,
It's the Hungarian Rhapsody,
Number 2 by Liszt.

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