THE ONES THAT LANCE MISSED

Marie Johnson was a corker
And so was Joan Stalker
Did Margaret Stevenson go modelling
Or was it Sylvia Codling.

Isabel McCullogh
Called herself Isa
Was she ever late for school
Or was she an early riser.

Then there's Margaret Horsley
Did she live on the border
I remember her well
She played the recorder.

Don Thompson, Viv Attaway
Miss Hepburn named June
They were there at the start
But they left very soon.

Then there's a lad
Like us was a Geordie
Of course you remember
His name Alan Purdy.

Billy Ullyart went to Billingham
I know that, that's right
He was a headmaster
And wed Brenda White.

Edna Martin, Margaret Johnson
The names never cease
Sadly they departed
May they both Rest in Peace.

Another who left us
Is a Reed; first name Ken
Sleep well dear friend
Till we all meet again.

Phyllis Napman, Thelma Adamson
Their profile was low
They lived in the Felling
But where did they go.

Lillian Gallagher went to Malaga
I know that is bull
But she did leave the district
And she now lives in Hull.

Alec Cummins, Tom Castlehow
At football first choice
If they played football now
Would they own a Rolls Royce.

Joyce Henery, Vivian Franklyn
At netball showed promise
Also Joan Pickford
And remember June Thomas.

Eric Noble lives in Hebburn
He did very well
He was a teacher
And taught at Clegwell.

Malcolm Rigg was a swimmer
Remember the baths
We nearly got drowned
But we did have some laughs.

Then there's Stan Anderson
Of footballing fame
I know it's not him
But the name was the same.

Les Maddison, Fred Matthews
Were very good friends
George tried to find them
But came to dead ends.

Did Sybil Eagerness go South
And Joan West go to Wales
I wonder what happened
To Dorothy Bayles.

Did Kath Soderburg go to Yorkshire
But who went to Brighton
Was it Anne Mckenna
No! She lives in Ryton.

Who went to Australia
And this is no myth
I'm sure you remember
Of course Brian Smith.

Then there was Pearson
His name was not Stan
Remember his first name
I'm damned if I can.

Sylvia Foster, Mary Turnbull
Is it asking too much
Or are they still friends
Do they still keep in touch.

Who lives in Norwich
But was he a foreman
I'm sure you remember
His name was Jim Dorman.

Who lives in Coventry
Has she been there long
Now I remember
It's Renee Armstrong.

There were three other lads
But the memory is vague
George Humphries, Keith Anderson
And a lad called George Craig.

A lad with ambition
To be a musician
And he played the fiddle
Of course it's Lance Liddle.

Well that's the end
I'm sick of one liners
So let's have three cheers
For the old Forty-niners.

Ron Niven February 2005