Kenneth Pendlebury

Atherton, Manchester, England

I was born 3rd November 1937 In Atherton. I am the only son of Lily and William Pendlebury who now live at Blackpool. I have four sisters: Mary, May, Violet and Kathleen. I am a father and grandfather. My only daughter is Karen my grand daughter is Lauren Charlie. I am the husband of Patricia Pendlebury. We have been married 34 years. I am a member of Tyldesley Rugby Union Club and Wigan Rugby League Club. I played Tyldesley and Leigh School Boys (all amateur). I write every month for Atherton Parish Church magazine. I have had ten poems published to date, and now hope to get my book, "The Pit Falls of Life", which tell's of 36 years spent down the mine, published.


St. John's

The town is suddenly awakened by smoke and fire,
Flames light the sky from the parish church spire.
No more from St. John's, sound from the bells,
As the church is left in a ghostly shell.
No hymns from the organ or our heavenly choir,
Just the destruction from a ghostly fire.

The church of St John's, we were all so proud,
The surplice and cassock now serve as a shroud.
Coloured leaded windows took us back in time,
Paintings from the Bible taken from the mind.
We picture Jesus baptized by St. John in the Sea of Galilee,
Now as we walk by and hang our heads in shame,
As prayers to the Lord all now seem in vain.

Walking Day comes around, people line the streets,
Parents slip the ranks to hand out little treats,
"Onward, Christian Soldiers", played by marching bands,
Choir boys and girls, prayer books held in hand.
Church and chapel walk with banners held up high,
Lovely singing voices reaching for the sky.
We put our hearts together and say the long Amen.

Grandad III
Teddy's Dilemma

It had been raining all day when Lauren came to stay,
We were all sat around wondering what games to play.
It was soon decided to play hide 'n seek,
"You're on, Grandad, close your eyes and don't peep."
Lauren goes off with Lassie and Blaze to hide.
Her dolls and Teddy scampering behind.

Lauren creeps behind the curtains
Leaving her tiny shoes sticking out.
Lassie just managed to squeeze in behind the couch,
Blaze shot through the open back door,
Grabs Teddy with his head,
Then buries him like a bone behind Grandad's toolshed,
Blaze dives under her blanket she uses for her bed.

"Coming, ready or not", Grandad's heard to shout,
He soon spots Lassie for her tail is sticking out.
His attention is drawn to the curtains,
Points to Lauren, a tittering little bump.
The friends all look around, but Teddy can't be found.

Blaze rescues Teddy, but he's now in a terrible mess,
Grandad thinks a warm bath will be for the best.
Teddy is wrapped in a towel and given a warm cup of tea,
He slowly recovers looking all shy and meek,
Says, "It's great fun when playing hide and seek.

All poems Copyright © 1997 Kenneth Pendlebury. All rights reserved.