'DOWN MEMORY LANE' Part Two

To tell of life in bygone days
People made money in different ways
Ritchie the plumber prentice took rent
Maggie sold briquettes black market was bent
Irvine the cobbler kept us well and shod
Top end of Duke Street was busy and broad
Adjacent the cobbler being police and fire stations
A timely help in dire situations.

Woolworths nextdoor, then the old town hall
At the New Cross towered above all,
Way up near the steeple being four clocks
In gale force winds inclining to rock.
Worralls the bike shop; Grazziana same street
Sold fish and chips their black puddings a treat.
Alton and Liddell the grocers nearby
With provisions alike competing would vie,
Give quality service customers tease
Spoil them for choice attempting to please.

Harry Hayhurst newsagent, his wife kept cats,
The smell from them dreadful keeping down rats
An English man born, a great accies fan
A colourful spectacle this big cheery man
Jim Sweet the painter Brown owned the dairy
McTavish the butcher, McGills sweets were tasty
Walkers were drapers Jim McCowan the baker
Ferguson garage – Wallace undertaker.

The worlds largest teapot, McWhinnies proud boast
This large piece of crockery along with a host
Of grocery goods a right splendid display
Would captivate onlookers many a day
And yet no tea it is understood
Within that large teapot ever was brewed.

There were many more small shops around
In just a few streets to spend each pound
Choice is now limited to the vast stores
A joy lost forever shopping now bores.
Recalling the past may now wrack the mind
Yet in this day its pleasant to find
Memories of John Brown, and now Reverend Bob Kent
With his unique contributions surely heaven sent
Proclaiming the Gospel still telling the people
Of God’s wonderful love in the church with no steeple.

Bert Elliott
Bandsman
Hamilton Temple Corps