Here's another offering to Poet's Corner from a local lady. 

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"Memories of Polikoff's - Burberrys 1955-1970"

I remember the roar of machinery as I opened the big swing door,

And the hissing steam from the pressers as I walked the factory floor.

The clattering noise of the trouser trucks, loaded way up high,

Frankie Lane belting out from the speakers above ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky.’

I remember the ‘Bedding Section’ and the ‘Brassieres’ and ‘Lingerie’ too,

That’s where I became designer in 1962.

I remember the cutting room tables, the longest I’d ever seen,

And the band knives lined up like sentries as I walked to the factory canteen.

I remember the upstairs toilets where the air was thick with smoke,

Where females shared their secrets and many a naughty joke.

I remember Mrs Eddy with her ever friendly smile,

She swept up the dust and the cottons, then, chatted with us for a while.

I remember D.R. Jones the buyer, Mr. Sterling the MD.

Mr Frazer, Gwyn Evans and Lewis James were managers, all three.

Miss Surridge and Miss Draper, Tilly John and Ada Cotton,

Des Bartlett, Mrs Farmer and Gladys Mars are ones I’ve not forgotten.

Jean Evans, Jean Pitt, Enid Butler, Cliff Taylor and Tom Clap,

Vener Jenkins and Ivor Davies he was such a lovely chap.

Gwyn Edwards, Gareth Davies, Peter Hanley and Jeans husband, Jimmy Pitt,

Ron Evans with big biceps – he was always tanned and fit.

There was Vivian the mechanic and his brother Cyril Lloyd

Mal Williams worked on viewing and he often got annoyed.

Gethin Jones, he worked on maintenance, he sang the day away,

He married Mary Moody, I recall their wedding day.

2.

  There was Danny Rees, Ken Oram and Ryland.  Norman Hodges, Tom Griffiths and Jock,

They are all rolling into my memory like a fast flowing brook that won’t stop.

Ron Jones, Derek Davies and Walter, Barry Grimstead and Handel Rich,

Bill Edwards and Ivor the chauffeur, Johnny Green  with his catch phrase, ‘The Bitch’.

Mrs Davies, Mrs Rees and Pat Salter, Enid Lloyd, Annie Clark and Christine,

Eirlys Davies and Joan and David Roach.  Oh! Yes, I nearly forgot, there’s Irene.

Tudor, Carl Morris and Margaret, Dai Langley, Dai Louise and May,

I can still see their faces before me as though it was just yesterday.

Dai Fitzpatrick, Mal Pickin, Phyllis Morgan.  Ron Hinkin and Alan James,

Annie Morgan and Mair her daughter, there are so many, many more names.

Barbara Roberts and Muriel Thomas.  Edith Smart and Betty Cook,

All of them such great characters, enough for a bestselling book.

Mr Wright the factory manager with his charismatic smile,

Les Jeffries floor managed Lingerie; he checked knickers by the pile.

There was John Jones, John Lancey and Roy Jarman, Harry Locke and his brother Ray,

They worked with Keith Rowe and Idwal, pressing garments throughout the day.

Brian Davies, he worked on viewing along with Islwyn and Toni

Sergeant Jenkins was head of security, always hoping to catch out a phoney.

Dough Morgan, Hilda Collins and Bonny, Lou Watkins and Alf and Joyce Skym.

Billy, Anita and Iris Carpenter and Charlie Winkle, I can’t forget him.

These names seem to go on forever; will the list in my head ever end?

Colin Page, Pat Peachy and Terry James, Nancy Jones who was also my friend.

Alan Robotham, Elvira, Ethel Hinton and the lovely Peggy John,

She had a fetish for Sinatra, now, Peggy and Frank are both gone.

Brian Webb, Doris Billingham, Barry Thomas, Muriel Glas, Colin Ace and Ray Brown,

Shirley Wall, Pat Brunker and Muriel Pope, were all jewels in the GUS Crown.

In the office I worked with Moira, Rosemary and Mair my good friends,

Noel Henry, Graham Lewis and Ernie Fair, who will bring my long list to its end.

There are dozens more that I recall; it would take too long to name them all,

So I’ll say what a pleasure it was to be part of that ‘Sewing Dynasty’

Where all our lives became intertwined some moved on, some are gone, some were left behind.

Sweet memories of my happy, halcyon days, when life was much better in so many ways....