Post by rose on Oct 6, 2007 22:35:04 GMT -5
Hope OLGA doesn't mind this reprint from Neil's KPS newsletter...I've waited a bit to see if it showed up here but don't think it has yet, soooooo check out MR. FLASH & CO.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING, OLGA!
Such excitement! not only two absolutely top-form new songs from Ray, but I
have been given two William Grimshaw School magazines with contributions
from Ray and Pete.
I include the essay that young Ray wrote when he was in the 6th form. Even
then he liked bow ties, "toffs" and the name "Flash" :-) Enjoy.
Olga
(Copied from William Grimshaw School Magazine No 3 - Summer Term 1961)
Gentleman Bert De Lord was respected on whatever race course he was seen. He
was held in great esteem by the bookies who regarded him as a regular
client. But everyone had to suffer ill luck and Bert was no exception. He
was having a bad run on the horses and the bookmakers were hot on the trail
of the well-dressed gentleman with the large bow tie.
It was the last meeting of the steeplechase season and Bert was being hard
pressed by Honest Joe Clarke and his compatriots, who were expecting their
money by the end of the day's racing. Bert, who was normally well
controlled and cool in tricky situations knew that if he did not have a big
winner this day, Honest Joe Clarke would make things very uncomfortable for
him.
The first three races went by and Bert had not had a winner yet, his luck
certainly seemed to be running out. Every time the horses flashed past, Bert
would glance down the course to see if Honest Joe and his boys were there
and every time his face would screw up with right as Honest Joe, plus thee
hefty looking gentlemen with flattened noses and cauliflower ears would be
staring straight back at him. This was very unfortunate; would the great and
respected Gentleman Bert De Lord be losing his touch? If so, the end of
Gentleman Bert De Lord would be an end of an era.
Bert had inherited his father's skill as he father did from his father. His
keen sense of picking out winners had gained him a sizeable income but now
he was losing the knack and there would be no second chances for him,
reputation or no reputation. The horses were in the paddock for the last
race of the day. The tension was rising and Bert moved towards the ticket
office to lay down his bet. He was just reaching out to lay his bet when a
short man with a small mousey voice stepped in front of him and said "Can I
have number six, "Pink Lady"? "Yes, sir, here you are", replied the booking
clerk. He went off and stuffed his little ticket into his pocket and walked
wolfishly away.
"I'll have that one, too", said Bert. "Number two, righty-o-sir, here you
are" replied the clerk. "But you've made a mistake, I want number six,"
pleaded Bert. "I'm sorry sir, we are closing now, the race is nearly
starting", replied the clerk and she closed the window in his face. "I've
had it now," thought Bert, as he walked back to the finishing post.
The horse he put his money on by mistake was a complete outsider called
"Flash". It had never won a race and it never looked like winning or even
finishing. Just then the crowd roared as the horses started, there was a
terrific excitement as this was the big race of the day, a mile with six
jumps and four horses, plus the unfortunate Flash, who was already two
lengths back.
"The first fence, and all the horses clear well apart from Flash who seems
to be feeling the pace," the course commentator shouted. "Fence number two
and the favourite, "Handy Man" is down". The commentator cried.
And so the third and fourth fences were cleared and the leaders were
gradually drawing away from Flash. Up came the fifth and two more horses
fell which caused great excitement in the crowd. There was only one horse in
it, that was the horse Bert wanted originally, "Pink Lady". Bert covered his
face in defeat but he was startled when the crowd roared all the more.
"Pink Lady" had fallen at the last fence and "Flash" only had to clear the
last fence to win.
With great caution the jockey steered "Flash" towards the fence; he jumped.
and stumbled and .. got up to finish the race.
After Bert had collected his winnings he went over to Honest Joe Clarke and
paid him back his money.
"No hard feelin's, eh, my boy," croaked Joe in a throaty voice. "Of course,
old fellow" chirped Bert with his old confidence.
The crowd dispersed and as they made their way out of the stands, there was
a smile on the face of Gentleman Bert De Lord.
Raymond Davies - 6th Year
THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING, OLGA!
Such excitement! not only two absolutely top-form new songs from Ray, but I
have been given two William Grimshaw School magazines with contributions
from Ray and Pete.
I include the essay that young Ray wrote when he was in the 6th form. Even
then he liked bow ties, "toffs" and the name "Flash" :-) Enjoy.
Olga
RACE AGAINST ODDS
(Copied from William Grimshaw School Magazine No 3 - Summer Term 1961)
Gentleman Bert De Lord was respected on whatever race course he was seen. He
was held in great esteem by the bookies who regarded him as a regular
client. But everyone had to suffer ill luck and Bert was no exception. He
was having a bad run on the horses and the bookmakers were hot on the trail
of the well-dressed gentleman with the large bow tie.
It was the last meeting of the steeplechase season and Bert was being hard
pressed by Honest Joe Clarke and his compatriots, who were expecting their
money by the end of the day's racing. Bert, who was normally well
controlled and cool in tricky situations knew that if he did not have a big
winner this day, Honest Joe Clarke would make things very uncomfortable for
him.
The first three races went by and Bert had not had a winner yet, his luck
certainly seemed to be running out. Every time the horses flashed past, Bert
would glance down the course to see if Honest Joe and his boys were there
and every time his face would screw up with right as Honest Joe, plus thee
hefty looking gentlemen with flattened noses and cauliflower ears would be
staring straight back at him. This was very unfortunate; would the great and
respected Gentleman Bert De Lord be losing his touch? If so, the end of
Gentleman Bert De Lord would be an end of an era.
Bert had inherited his father's skill as he father did from his father. His
keen sense of picking out winners had gained him a sizeable income but now
he was losing the knack and there would be no second chances for him,
reputation or no reputation. The horses were in the paddock for the last
race of the day. The tension was rising and Bert moved towards the ticket
office to lay down his bet. He was just reaching out to lay his bet when a
short man with a small mousey voice stepped in front of him and said "Can I
have number six, "Pink Lady"? "Yes, sir, here you are", replied the booking
clerk. He went off and stuffed his little ticket into his pocket and walked
wolfishly away.
"I'll have that one, too", said Bert. "Number two, righty-o-sir, here you
are" replied the clerk. "But you've made a mistake, I want number six,"
pleaded Bert. "I'm sorry sir, we are closing now, the race is nearly
starting", replied the clerk and she closed the window in his face. "I've
had it now," thought Bert, as he walked back to the finishing post.
The horse he put his money on by mistake was a complete outsider called
"Flash". It had never won a race and it never looked like winning or even
finishing. Just then the crowd roared as the horses started, there was a
terrific excitement as this was the big race of the day, a mile with six
jumps and four horses, plus the unfortunate Flash, who was already two
lengths back.
"The first fence, and all the horses clear well apart from Flash who seems
to be feeling the pace," the course commentator shouted. "Fence number two
and the favourite, "Handy Man" is down". The commentator cried.
And so the third and fourth fences were cleared and the leaders were
gradually drawing away from Flash. Up came the fifth and two more horses
fell which caused great excitement in the crowd. There was only one horse in
it, that was the horse Bert wanted originally, "Pink Lady". Bert covered his
face in defeat but he was startled when the crowd roared all the more.
"Pink Lady" had fallen at the last fence and "Flash" only had to clear the
last fence to win.
With great caution the jockey steered "Flash" towards the fence; he jumped.
and stumbled and .. got up to finish the race.
After Bert had collected his winnings he went over to Honest Joe Clarke and
paid him back his money.
"No hard feelin's, eh, my boy," croaked Joe in a throaty voice. "Of course,
old fellow" chirped Bert with his old confidence.
The crowd dispersed and as they made their way out of the stands, there was
a smile on the face of Gentleman Bert De Lord.
Raymond Davies - 6th Year