'The pub at the end of the road...' - Your Letters: March 25

The pub at the end of the road

Seems to have come to the end of its road

Boarded up and deserted it stands.

But sometimes, I swear

That you can still hear

The muffled murmurings

Of people inside;

The clinking of glass

The ‘clack’ of a domino,

Laughter and cheering

From those who passed long ago;

Ghosts drinking toasts

Haunting old haunts

Generations of regulars reunited

And so it seems, posthumously invited

To a weird celebration someone is giving

Perhaps they are holding a wake for the living

Whose pubs are being shut down

Who are seeing the end of their towns

‘We had the best of it’,

Says a voice from that inner throng

And I wonder, and then just wander along.

Alan Jones, West Midlands

JOIN TOWN IN VE DAY CELEBRATION

May 8 marks 80 years since Victory in Europe day a momentous occasion that signalled the end of the second world war. We are holding a 40s event at the Newport Scout Hut on Longford Road, Newport on Monday, 5 May from 11am until 4pm.

Come along and dress in 40s style to help us commemorate 80 years since VE Day. If you have items of your grandad’s or great grandad’s, friends, neighbours please bring it along and share your stories with us whether medals, clothing, any items at all. There will be memorabilia, 1940s music, a sing along of classic war time songs, quiz on WW2, Victoria cake, sausage rolls, cup of tea in china cups and saucers, cordial, games from that era like sack racing, egg and spoon race.

We will also reflect and remember while VE Day is a celebration, it is also time to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who lived through the war.

VE 80 is a unique way to bring our community together, to celebrate the triumph of peace over conflict and how far we have come.

Ann Whitfield, RBLWS Newport

TEA AND A MOAN MAKES UK GREAT

Of course the UK came 23rd in the World Happiness Report. We are British and proud of it!

This nation is renowned throughout world for our ability to weather political and economic storms, not by rioting, but by moaning about them and everything else that gets on our wicks and that includes moaning about people who moan about this country. Tea and moaning has seen us through many a crisis, and long may it continue.

Peter Steggles, Rushbury

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