A poem - out of the blue....

Those who know Cliff will remember classic recitals like "Albert and the Lion", various bits of Kipling and many others which he learned as a lad.

He learned a lot of them because his Mother organised concert parties for her church. Leonard, Cliff's elder brother (a Sapper in the Army) played the mouth organ - Cliff took on many roles - doing magic tricks and recitals - even acting in plays. He also took on the role of compere - for which he had to fill in at a moment's notice with impromptu jokes and poems.

Today, out of the blue, this popped up.

I'm dying Kathleen, I'm dying,
Things that were faded are now bright.

I'm dying Kathleen, I'm dying,

Old friends I shall meet tonight.

I'm dying Kathleen, I'm dying,

Hush, can you hear t' splash?

I'm dying Kathleen, I'm dying,

I'm dying my moustache!

He followed up with another that he had learned when he was sixteen having elocution lessons..

The Hindoo's Paradise

And, of course, he was word perfect.