He was one of nine kids, a bright young lad
Keen to impress his mom and dad
And back in those days of bicycles and trams
Dad worked hard at school, passed all his exams
"This boy will do well, to great things aspire"
But his school reports only fuelled the fire
"It's not your brains, son that we need.....
.....it's money we want, there's mouths' to feed
And 'though still a boy at 14 years old
In those days you had to do as you're told
Dad worked in a foundry 12 hours a day
No job satisfaction and even less pay
And as the furnace fires grew hot
So did dads' temper....more often than not
After work dad still found the time
When he'd washed away the grease and grime
To play trombone in the local brass band
Mom used to watch him in the park bandstand
They fell in love.........so the story goes
A hansom young man and his English Rose
Then soon after marrying the girl next door
He got called up and sent off to war
He joined the army and rose in ranks
Not owing his mom or dad any thanks
Then dad was asked - "can you do first aid"
Well...he'd only spent years in St. Johns Brigade!
Then feeling he must be posessed with a curse
When asked "do you fancy being a nurse?"
It wasn't the career dad had had in mind
But a chance to leave his past behind
He studied psychiatry, promotion he'd earned
Very keen to pursue all that he'd learned
But N.H.S. pay was very poor
With a wife and 3 girls....we needed more
On the wards dad worked nights and during the day
He worked as a gardener, supplementing his pay
His studying paid off, he gained his reward
Promotion to Charge Nurse of his own ward
We hadn't much money but dad found a way
Of taking us all on holiday
He'd win competitions writing slogans and rhymes
We'd go to the seaside..........such happy times
Dad played his keyboard most every night
never quite getting the rhythm right
But mom didn't mind, she'd still sing along
as dad attempted his latest song
Dads' pattern of life began to make sense
Perhaps it was all down to providence
And all the way through his working life
Dad had the support of his lovely wife
She's gone now, our mom...she passed away
But she's been in our thoughts most every day
And 'though at times I feel very sad
Perhaps they're together now....our mom and dad
