……and Ewan sang, “I found my love

by the gasworks croft,”

and we both knew

salt smoke choke our nostrils,

coke grit between our teeth

and believed

and Ewan sang, “kissed my girl,”

and we both knew

kiss and fondling homeward

down some cobbled alley.

…..and Ewan sang, “I am

a freeman on Sunday,”

and we both raised our eyes to Werneth Low

finding life’s stepping stones to Kinder

via Jacob’s Ladder,

grey Grindsbrook.  

Days on Crowden,

frozen Bleaklow,

bright Mam Tor to Rushop Edge,

beloved Mount Famine,

larks and curlews for companions.  

Begin at whatever place you please.  

But always we come back from Hope.

“Wherever we hiked, we always came back

……..from Hope.”   

 

“Hope” is in Derbyshire as are most of the places named.

Italics are from the voice of Gladys Axon, wife of John Axon GC and subject of the 1958 radio programme, “The Ballad of John Axon”.

Picture: Grindsbrook Clough