The ‘War To End All Wars’ had brought peace to our Earth -

And here, in our town, came the wonder of birth...

So bring on the band !

A boy for our land,

But would he be happy? A person of worth?

Your toys and your games were quite simple but fun -

Marbles to roll down the street, in the sun.

Then conkers on strings,

Or swooping on swings,

Racing and chasing and hoping you’d won.

But under your feet was a universe too -

Ants building cities as summer birds flew.,

A worm from its hole,

A woodlouse to roll,

While spiders each morning wove cobwebs with dew.

Now, a curious child like young Cyril, you see,

Is eager for answers. How tall is a tree?

And why is the sky

Sometimes blue ? Or so high?

No wonder a place was right there. Standing by.

The best of the best went to Reading School - so

Our Cyril was given his blazer to go...

There were Saturday games

Plus long Latin names,

Geometry, History - and more skills to grow.

The years hurried by as a fierce war began.

A bomb battered Reading - so Fate chose a plan.

You were shipped to a shore,

Gasped at temples galore,

Then gazed at Mount Everest. Came home a man!

A new chapter started. A husband ! A dad !

A home of your own - so much joy to be had...

With a dear little girl,

As ambitions unfurl -

So now you’re called ‘Sir’, where you once were a lad.

But, what an odd subject? Biology seems

Nothing like Physics or fierce Rugby teams.

Yet our world needs a star

Whose visions range far -

To stir up excitement, to capture young dreams.

When marking was done, there were creatures to feed.

An owl in the aviary, grumpy with greed.

A fox with her brood,

All hoping for food -

While exotic starlings would dazzle at speed.

Time can turn quickly - or pause with a sigh...

Your two lovely wives had to wave you good bye.

But your daughter, you knew,

Was a good teacher too -

And retirement was drab. Let’s give Preston a try!

Then farewell to Reading - the best team of all.

Farewell to memories street-names recall.

There’s a new life to find

To challenge your mind,

So you piled up your hobbies and schemes in the hall....

You play the accordion, dance down the keys;

Load up your rucksacks with lenses to tease -

More cameras (new!)

Plus a tripod or two,

Reflectors for sound and more gadgets to squeeze.