London 1966

Bobby Moore and Nobby Stiles,
Greavesy, the Charlton’s, Best and Giles
I had them all in the palm of my hand,
Thanks to Mum and my ‘Old Man’.
Hurricanes, Spitfires and soldiers too;
Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh!
I bought them, sold them, bargained swaps
George and the Spits were probably tops
I learned of Pluto and of Mars
On the bubble gum, tea-bag and cigarette cards

With strings from my ceiling and my ‘searchlight’
The Battle of Britain was every night
Look out, there’s a Messerschmitt on your tail
Coming out of the light bulb; turn, roll or bail!
I know the pilots’ name is Jim
I told him when I glued him in
I’m sure I put his guns on right
Grab the joystick; he’s in your sights
And So victorious war was waged
In the skyway's of my bedroom, in the Airfix age

One Christmas it came; I think from heaven
It was called quite simply, ‘Johnny Seven’
Bing, Bob or Charlie couldn’t compete
As I headed for the ‘dangerous’ street
I shot ‘Jerry’ and ‘Jap’ ‘till I got tired
With grenades and bullets that really fired
The jungles of Borneo and far Malay
Were found in a garden in London that day
The bright red jumper my Nan had sent
Made me wary of snipers on the borders of Kent

The end of summer I think was the time of year
When the cemetery certainly held no fear
Though the head would warn at assembly
‘Horse Chestnuts’ are one thing I'd rather not see
On the way to school or on the way home
I could be found on my knees among headstones
It's not ghosts, ghouls or solitude that I sought
But a natural weapon that couldn’t be bought
And fastidious; a Connoisseur
I hunted for REAL school boy's treasure; the ‘King Conker’