Hi Sanders
This is all I have of the poem....you will see it says 'part of' so I assume it is only part of the poem, not been able to find any more despite google search
Bermondsey Poem
Part of a Poem dedicated to Canon Arbuthnott by Terrence Dinan
Bermondsey, my Bermondsey, never out of my mind.
A place on the map, one can easily find.
Where are the houses, the folk that I knew?
The streets have all changed, and faces are new.
Remember Dockhead? And Father Murnane?
A priest to whom no one e'er turned to in vain.
A man for the people, in Church or at Court.
He lived for his parish, for his parish he fought.
The Catholic Procession, What an annual event!
Those streets lined with people, and many knees bent.
The hymns and the floats, the lorries and vans.
The noise and the hush, the prayers and the bands.
Those Orpington boys, their pillbox on head.
Their drum and fife band, the tears that were shed.
Those bright sturdy lads, orphans each and every one.
Touched the hearts of us all, our feelings were wrung.
The Downside and Fisher, Remember those clubs?
Kept lads off the streets, and out of the pubs.
The pursuit was sport, and all played the game.
Danny Lynch and some others, achieved national fame.
Father Stephen who sponsored and founded both clubs.
And Freddie Kirkpatrick, who reined in the subs.
The war changed it all, and many are gone.
The rest are old men, but Club spirit lives on.
Remember the cinemas, 'The Storks' and 'The Star'?
A sidedoor conveniently, left on the jar.
One crept up the stairs, and bided one's time.
Then mixed with the crowd. Who'd call it a crime?
Remember the pubs, 'The Hole in the Wall',
'The Stingo' and 'Feathers', 'The Moonies' and all?
And old 'Muttoneye' wedged in the door of a bar,
with harmonium he'd carried, goodness knows from how far!
Bermondsey, Bermondsey, we were all of us poor.
No violence, no muggings, we kept to the law.
The neighbours so close, and the people so kind.
Those faces and places, never fade from my mind.
The epitome of my passion for Bermondsey - my first and last home
Hope this helps
Suey
