An Independant man (tribute to John Wiskar)
by Raymond Holt
An ex Cranleigh village Bobby
I could hear the sound of silence
That cold dark winter’s night
When the mist fell asleep on my eyebrows
As daylight gave up the fight.
And sitting on the headmaster’s doorstep
Was a fully-grown man in tears
Just waiting to see his old teacher
But lost count of the passing years.
He always listened to this wise old man
Although retired from teaching long ago
He understood his words of wisdom
With a lifetime’s experience to show.
Such an independent man and so unique
Many wish he were still alive
And to remind us of his sad passing
They built John Wiskar Drive.
And when stars shine down on Cranleigh
You can sometimes smell his pipe
Wafting gently around his flower beds
Until darkness turns to light.
So forgive me for labouring the point
This is not a history lesson –
But why is it some folk we forget
And others leave a lasting impression?
(An excerpt from the book of poetry ‘Looking Over My Shoulder’)
LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER
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