MY late father, Jim Pearce, was born in Donyatt and lived all his life in the area.

He often wrote verse about situations that amused him and had a number published in the paper.

This verse, written in the 1960s, would, I hope, amuse your readers.

It is pertinent to remember the nationwide shops that existed then, which have gradually disappeared, unlike those since 2020.

SHIRLEY WILLIAMS (nee Pearce)
Taunton

The Shopping Trip
All you men blessed with married bliss
Pin back your lugholes and listen to this
You may think you are the boss of the house
But more likely than not it’s your loving spouse
Probably you think it’s no skin off your nose
When she goes as far as choosing your clothes
The other day I had the shock of my life
When I was informed by my dear wife
It was time I gave my old clothes the boot
And bought myself a brand-new suit
She didn’t think the one I’ve got was much of a job
The day I got it on my demob
She said I’ve put on weight in all the wrong places
The trousers now stay up without any braces
You’ve also spoilt the look of the weave
By wiping your nose on the left-hand sleeve
Maybe camphor balls have kept the moths from it
But they’ve not taken refuge in your leather wallet
So off to Taunton we’ll go on Saturday week
A nice new suit for you we’ll seek
To save the trouble of parking and all that fuss
We decided to go on the National bus
To get to the town I could hardly wait
I was counting my money all down Ashill straight
By the time we got as far as Hatch
I reckoned I could afford to buy a tie to match
We got to Taunton about half past two
Then after we found the nearest loo
As the sales were on we might get a cob
So we paid a visit to the Montague Burton Shop
The chap inside gave me an old-fashioned look
When he handed over a large pattern book
And he even showed a little less pleasure
As he armed himself with a battered tape measure
I said, ‘You’re jumping the gun, I’m afraid
I was hoping you’d have one already made’
There’s just one in the shop that’s off the peg
But for you I’m afraid it’s too long in the leg
He did show me another that was old-fashioned but nice
Until he told me the new-fashioned price
His face then turned about three shades paler
When I said, ‘But I thought you were the fifty bob tailor?
I’m afraid, my friend, he said, those days are gone
‘And so will my bus,’ I said, ‘if I don’t go on’
Dunns and Hepworths, we passed by them both
But when we came to Millets, I was just a bit loth
As a suit of denim caught my eye
But on second thoughts, we walked on by
Then we thought the story we would try to scotch
That John Colliers really was the window to watch
They showed me some pin-stripes and ugly green flecks
Some navy blues and extra-loud checks
Faces took on a definite frown
When I said I would go further round the town
Just to prove that our journey was not all in vain
And that one person’s loss is another one’s gain
In Debenhams window something my wife’s eye did catch
So, we finished up with a pair of red shoes - and a handbag to match.