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The Festival of Britain 1951 For Those Who Can Remember

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The Festival of Britain 1951.

For Those Who Can Remember

 

The Festival of Britain

1951

A hundred years on

From 1851

 

I was just a boy

Only 5 years old

Awed and open-eyed

In excitement's hold

 

Skylon standing tall

Pencilling the skies

Balancing precariously

On steel suspending guys

 

Dome Discovery

Had flown in from space

Like an alien saucer

To meet our human race

 

All the latest British

Developments in Science

Fascinated I was

To see future reliance

 

Battersea (the park)

It jingled, shiny new

Amusements, rides and everything

I later pencil-drew

 

Skylon was dismantled

(Skyward-pointing gem)

Rumour has it was all

Dumped into the Thames

 

You wonder how I got there

In 1951?

You're right there were no aeroplanes

Not a single one

 

Don Matthews June 2018

 

FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN 1951

FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN 1951  BATTERSEA PLEASURE GARDENS

LOOKING FOR REMAINS OF SKYLON TOWER

🌷(4)

◄ Oh Little Ant

Swissy Miss ►

Comments

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Don Matthews

Sat 18th Aug 2018 02:32

It's nice to meet some who's been there and remembers also. Yes it was magical. We had a biro in the shape of the Skylon, standing proud and tall. Don't know where it's disappeared to.

Don?

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raypool

Fri 17th Aug 2018 20:03

This has my vote Don. I was seven in 1951 and went to the Park with my parents. It was magical and I remember a lot including a pool with fountains. I have the full brochure and a tram ticket from the occasion.

Well done sir.

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Don Matthews

Fri 17th Aug 2018 14:00

JR - I'm pleased to hear this. The keeping of historical things is not taken seriously enough these days

Here's how the fun park was in 1976, shortly before it closed. It was the biggest in Europe. ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcAgTNc61Yg

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J R Harris

Fri 17th Aug 2018 13:35

I was at Battersea Park last year and they have had lottery funding to restore the original park features at the time of the festival. The atmosphre is captued in words and photos on interpretational panels. But not captured like your words here Don

<Deleted User> (18980)

Fri 17th Aug 2018 08:29

Well done Don. A straight poem...no Gina, Froggie, Funbus etc.

Can it last? Methinks not.

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