In Memoriam

A Georgian Triptych

May 1st Celebrations Over Whitacre 1914

Old George 
And Young George
And Young George's Son;
Young George
Will be a George
When Old George is done. 

But Young George
Will ne'er be George,
Tho' Old George's Son;
Young George
Will ne'er be George
Since Young George is done.

So when Old George
Is no more George,
When Old George is done;
Youngest George
Will then be George,
Young George's son.

© PB 26 April 1977

Note: The first verse was a bit of family doggerel I learned from my father when I was a boy in the Warwickshire countryside. As befits his name, he was a farmer. When his eldest son died in 1977, I added the second two verses to form a triptych in honour of the three generations. The photograph shows Nether and Over Whitacre villagers getting ready for their celebrations on May Day 1914. 'Old George' is the little boy in a straw hat shown by the arrow. He was nine years old and in charge of the pony and float.