Semaphore flagpoles

Red sails in the harbour

Formidable matrons and

Anti-macassers

A feast on the beach

With the brown china teapot

Boys with bare feet

“Come roll up your trousers!”

A parrot called Peggy

A dog called Dorita

A cloche in the garden

Oh whatever next!

The first car in the village

A chauffeur called William

The yearly regatta

The “Selina May”.

Tightly boned grannies

And trophies on mantels

An old cat called Sammy

Got blurred in the photo.

Your father’s the doctor

Both feared and respected

And here in the village

You owned the first camera.

And now I look at you

You sail your armada

A privileged boy

In your trim white collar.

We’ve sorted the negatives,

Old glass, in their envelopes

Safe for the future

In acid-free sleeves.

Museum exhibits -

Could you ever have guessed

When you sailed your smart fleet

Back in 1909?