Easy as A,B,C to find old Dursley (From Gazette Series)

Easy as A,B,C to find old Dursley

Sir - There has been a lot of interest in the articles in the Gazette recently about old Dursley. I thought readers might be interested in the enclosed poem written in 1949 by Mr Kemp.

I have just celebrated by 80th birthday and as I have lived in the area all my life I remember all of the businesses mentioned.

Dursley Alphabet by Mr Ernest Kemp (1949)

A is fir Adams the musical vet

B is for Baileys, who print the Gazette

C stands for Champions, for carpets and rugs

and also for Copes, who sells med'cines and drugs.

D's for a fruit shop, by name it is Deane's

E's Elletts, for papers, books and magazines

F's for the doctors - Fayle, Falconer and Fraser

And Fowles the optician, a posh type of glazier.

G's Giddings, who's busy both winter and summer

As house decorators, contractor and plumber.

H Canon Helm, whom one's happy to greet

And Hancock with limited portions of meat

And if to augment that small ration you wish

Hamlett's, I'm sure would supply you with fish

One more 'H' is Holmes, with a knowledge of amps

He sells all things electric, from sets down to lamps.

I might have been awkward about which to talk

But the Iveys will make you in comport to walk.

J's for Jones - Angus - 'is reverence to you

He does all (and more) he's expected to do.

K is for Kemp, you might possibly know him,

He takes the blame for concocting this poem

It's also for Kingham, he's in the 'K' batch

'tis he who looks after (or looks for) your 'thatch'.

L is for Listers, a firm of renown

Undoubtedly they're the backbone of the town.

M's for Montgom'ry at tail'ring no fool

These brothers spend Sunday 'twixt church and the school.

N is for Norville, in music well versed.

O's for Old Bell, where one quenches ones thirst.

P is for Pugh, suites of furniture selling.

Q's formed for sweets of a different spelling.

R stands for Robinsons Fruit, Flowers and Seed.

S is for Shapland, who bakes for our needs.

T is for Talboys - a blacksmith is Ted -

But with no spreading chestnut tree over his head.

U was for Urch's who made cakes galore

(it's Fearis's now, so tis Urch's no more).

V is for Vigus for repairs to your car

W is for Wilkes for your laces and silks

X is for Experts, there are many in town

Y is for Young Ladies who shop at Hancocks for hats.

Z is for Zone Works, along Uley Road.

Cynthia Jones, Shadwell, Uley