HARRISON FAMILY TREE

at the behest of one Joyce Resolée Bates (née Harrison)

This list, this Tree, this Family Catalogue of Horrors

(as Evers Joan describes it) to be bereft of Harrisons?

So you shall see, as our rare tale unfolds.

First, the silent, arty Alfred with his noble, patient Jane

And their wild brood of fledglings, all of seven;

With George the kindly gardener and Wilf the Bolton Knife,

Brothers both to rebel Daiz, a-roaring at her Jack;

And Winifred the Tomboy, climbing trees.

(No gentle sewing yet - not yet a lady! )

Then curly-headed William, a country lad who

Roamed the lanes and meadows in the gaiety of youth,

And then. ....... .Alas! The rest you know.

The sixth, the serious Ida with her Temperance and Vows,

Her motor-cycling London George, cast for a quiet role

As patient husband, kindly father of mad daughters,

With resolute Mum the Scourge of Tories, a Protector of Dear Harold.

- - And lastly Jobert. Lucky Jobert! But let others sing

His praises (??) ........ Tis not for me.

And then there follows such a mighty brood the world

Has ever known. First, Lively John, oh! Naughty John!

Founder of the Gravesend Branch, with Hilda, patient lady,

Who steeled herself against adversity to produce

The lovely Linda and the friendly (Tory!!) Richard, Robert and Terri

(And dearest Andrew, remembered with great love).

Then there's sagacious Alan, the hugely Rugeley boss with his

Fair fond family of females (oppressing Jonathan! )

.........and his cheering beering.

And so ad infinitum -- with Harrisons so rare

Amid the Steels and Bates and Booths run into Burrows

(With their delightful Trio so alphabetical all A's and B's;

Especially the endearing Scottie Andy, the veterrinarry Trrue

Blue)

The Casts converted into Fishes and to Kamens, now far flung:

Just five unfilleted fond fishes, five Kamen Cobbers too.

But David, son of Jobert, made a gesture to the name:

A hook-up with a Harrison of nimble Norfolk stock,

Good Ruth, a Trusty Wench, with the cheeful Chaz

And Joyful Juliet - the Sailing Senorita; both double-H

As yet -- Till Romeos with less exalted names

Do claim their rough red rural hands!

So now the Joyceful name of Harrison abates,

As one by one they shuffle off this mortal coil

And leave not a wrack behind -—-—

Except ............ .except ............ that

One splendid Man of Steel, the Noble Richard

Makes preservation. For, among the Great-Great Young

Of this our Noble Line (along with Grant of Steel

And Ross of Langford) comes the name of Kieron

.....HA RR I S 0 N ..........Steel;

A name that has a princely sound, a noble ring

To echo down the paths of misty Time.

J H

Pungent puns

Excruciatingly

Perpetrated

7.4.83 at

Westcliff-on-Mud