Written for the Parisella family who ran the cafe for decades, and where, as a teenager,  i would often be found. It's now been rebuilt with the original 1950's interior at Beamish open air museum. 

(The heartbeat of a village 

Is the people who help

Shape it)

 

It was a decade or so

After the war

Shackles were breaking

Thrown to the floor 

 

There were places to go

Faces to see

Music was changing 

Setting us free

 

Rock & Roll had arrived 

With Bill Hailey, & Elvis

Who drove the girls wild

With the sway of his pelvis 

 

The weekend was here!

His hair slicked right back 

Mam shouting loudly

Don't ruin them slacks!

 

For a young teenage buck

Only one place to be

Where the jukebox plays loud 

And your mind could run free 

 

In through the door 

Little Richard is playing 

The boys looking cool

Girls hips are swaying 

 

There's dancing in the aisles

Twisting in the seats

Others just enjoying 

The parlours many treats

 

John & Eva are there

With that relaxed, easy charm

And smiles that convey

A true sense of calm

 

There's ice creams & soda

And confectionery delights

Milkshakes to die for

Such colourful sights

 

But, he'll have coffee today

Like real men do

With a side of sophistication 

And a hint of suave too!

 

John slides it over

His smile lights the way

It'll linger for many decades

And brighten many a day

 

The lad sits in a booth

Beside his future wife

They both have no idea yet

But he'll sit beside her for life

 

And In that very same booth

Their kids will, one day, sway

To sounds of a different era

As the past presses replay 

 

And the next generation too

Will walk through that same door 

And play songs of yesteryear 

For those who'd gone before 

 

*** 

Now, simply known as 'Johnnie's' 

Two sons & a daughter help out 

Not sure when he had the time

But, these Italians don't mess about!

 

Mario behind the counter

Dave flitting about

Maria's smile lighting the aisles

John, still cool as owt!

 

Beefy crisps in oxtail soup

Vimto, hot or cold

£1 specials after closing time 

"Enjoy!" we were always told

 

The lads in the booth listening 

To ' House Of The Rising Sun '

But changing the lyrics to suit

Just for a bit o' fun:

 

"There is a house in Wingate town

An' it's called Johnnie's caff! 

It's been the ruin of many a poor boy

But at least we had a laugh!"

 

Later there were video games 

Pacman, & Street Fighter 2

But times, they were a changin'

And kids seemed to be too

 

But, its heartbeat carried on 

To tunes played, old & new

Until, one day, the music died

And a piece of Wingate did too

 

This place of treasured memories

This haunt of teenage dreams

This hub of tears & laughter

Stitched into Wingate's seams

 

For over 50 years

They gave their heart & soul

John & Eva kept the beat alive

Now, that's what I call 

Rock & Roll!

 

For Giovanni, Eva, Maria, Mario & David

 

***

 

To all at Beamish 

Who sit on those red seats

To rest your weary legs

And sample special treats

 

You sit with ghosts of decades past

In nostalgia's rosy hue

Many a tale rest in those booths

Now you're part of it too!

 

 

John's Café - Beamish https://www.beamish.org.uk/exhibits/johns-cafe/