Age-wise Alf

family friend who says many a one might as well be dead

who haven't tried living life to the full.

 

A kindly shoulder to cry or lean on and

a deep pocket to loan from at anytime type of bloke

 

Still carrying Blitz haunting memories

and having his brother being put paid to by the Germans

on D-Day didn't help

 

how is survival skills must have been thouroughly tested

when on his fire warden duties

seeing London falling all around him

 

but at least my fair lady never got to see thankfully

any of London bridges actually

falling down that being a gathering of consolations

 

always the self fool maker at family gatherings

the joint singing of Mother Browns knee raisings

and there was always going to be

Bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover

inclusive of so many tears

 

not to forget the stood still

Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag marching

and many more

 

in later years his inevitable retirement

and how proud we all were of his keen edged 

Senior Draughtsman job title

a position he held for some time

 

until that was when we heartbroken witnesses

saw the crematorium sending the smokey last of him

heavenwards