Up The Hill! Poem by Kris Viscardini

They came from far and wide,
Some had a comfortable ride,
others suffered the strains
of non-existent trains!

They were the 'aitch 'aitch 'aitches!
gathered for a chat and a bender,
we chatted them 'Up the Hill! ''s
and we chatted on the beaches,
and we'll never surrender!

Rob set it up and booked us a room,
so we could all get together
and we didn't need Zoom!
or have to chat about the weather!

Ed and Lesley and Little Michelle,
came fresh from the poolside
and arrived in good time,
as we all grabbed a beer, a juice or a wine!

We started to reminisce,
about all our old times,
it was too good to miss!
And some of it rhymes!

Inspector Tom & 'M and M' Mike,
had arrived by bus or train and maybe bike!
Our roving reporter Steve Smythe with an 'e',
also loves to cycle and often takes a hike!

Budding Gary Budinger,
entered the saloon like the lone ranger!
He'd come all the way from Horsham,
and wished he'd bought a new Porsche hmm!
He looked like a Roman emperor!
Perhaps Augustus Caesar,
and he used to play for Pompey!
If that's not too Crassus!
before churning out the laps
with the other Herne Hill chaps!

Tom Conlon joined the party,
and he is very smarty!
He's sorted out our website,
and overcome all barriers
for other Herne Hill Harriers!
Just like when he set the pace,
while hurdling in the steeplechase!

Regimental Seargent Major Robert Payne,
kept our room free from gatecrashers,
with a subtle word and a flash of his gnashers!
It was great to meet up again,
and explore the joys of memory lane!

Steve Mulcair was there!
And like the rest of us guys,
he's lost a bit of hair!
but still has all his flair!
I bet he'd set a good pace,
in any kind of race!

I'll end with,
a note or two,
about young Mark Frith!
he'd travelled all the way from Leigh-on-Sea!
a long way for a beer, a chat and a cup of tea,
He's family from India, Trinidad, Guyana and China!
and really likes a cup of Rosie Lee!

He goes way back like all of us!
and remembers running, not just for the bus!
I guess we've all covered a million miles
and last night we saw a million smiles!

We'll meet again if it is God's will!
And in the meantime, 'Up the Hill! '

Kris Viscardini aka Chris Carden