WestEustonPurplePoets
Founding Member
Kathy Randle
Kathy
Randle
KATHY WRITES:
I was born and bred in Camden - except for 4 years when I was evacuated during
World War II. I am one of the founding members of West Euston Time Bank and
am also on the management committee of the Third Age Project.
I was interested in time banking from the very first moment I heard about
it. I especially like the ways it can unite communities. At the West Euston
Time Bank I had earned credits baking cakes and bread as well as helping
out at the caf&acite and being on the management committee too.
Over the years, I have enjoyed participating and performing with the Third
Age Project's Bingo Calling, Oriental Dancing, English Country Dancing,
Tai-chi and Drama classes.
Our dear friend and Purple Poet Kathy Randle died November 7th
2007. |
.
Poetry
THE ACTUARY, DREAMING
STRAWBERRIES
VOTES FOR WOMEN!
VOTES FOR MEN!
MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
OH HAPPY DAY!
A CHILD IN WARTIME LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
SIX YEARS OLD
A DAY AT THE SEASIDE (AGE SIX)
SCARRED FOR LIFE
MY MOTHER SAID
LIMERICKS
MOTHERS
SAINT GEORGE FOR ENGLAND! FIVE POEMS:
Saint Geoge for England
The Case For
The Case Against
An Innocent Bystander
The Maiden's Tale
NORAH
(All poems © Kathy Randle. All rights reserved).
Poems:
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Kathy Randle
The Actuary, Dreaming
13.09.2007
I don't dream, but my friend
Once walked into the kitchen
Took a knife from the drawer.
Mum and I were able to
Take the knife from her
And put her back to bed.
Later, when she asked. Mum said
'You were only dreaming.'
Thank God I don't dream.
Kathy Randle wrote this poem in the Purple Poet Workshop
exploring the 2007 theme of 'Dreams' for National Poetry Day
2007. |
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Kathy Randle
STRAWBERRIES
31.05.2007
Strawberries are like
The signs of high summer
Luscious, sweet, soft and juicy.
Sounds of plink-plonk
From the tennis courts.
Plates of strawberries and cream,
Delicious mouth-watering dreams.
Kathy Randle 's poem was first published
in the West Euston Time Bank Newsletter, June 2007. |
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Kathy Randle
VOTES FOR WOMEN!
VOTES FOR MEN!
08.03.2007
i.
VOTES FOR WOMEN?
What do they think
They are doing?
Shouting, screaming; most unlady-like
They should be at home
Washing. ironing, looking after kids
AND making themselves beautiful
For their husbands.
What do they know of politics?
That's men's work
Not suitable for women's brains.
Go home and let your
Better halves do the dirty work
Of running the world.
Women having the vote
Will make it worse.
ii.
VOTES FOR MEN?
What do they think
They are doing?
Shouting, screaming; most unmasculine
They should be at home
Washing. ironing, looking after kids
AND making themselves handsome
For their wives.
What do they know of politics?
That's women's work
Not suitable for men's brains.
Go home and let your
Better halves do the dirty work
Of running the world.
Men having the vote
Will make it worse.
Kathy Randle first performed this poem sequence
with the Purple Poets at the West Euston Time Bank's
International Womens Day Dance, Dick Collins Hall, March 10th
2007 |
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Kathy Randle
Memories of Childhood
27.07.2006
I remember the smells, the yells,
And the street calls
Of the cats-meat-man
And the winkle-and-cockle woman.
These were regular noises
In our cul-de-sac
Of tenement houses
In Chalk Farm.
Three families shared our house
"Auntie" Dora and her cats on the ground.
Mum and I in one room
On the second.
And the Ciccones on the top.
We all got on OK,
But the six kids plus Mum and Dad
Were always shouting in Italian.
Summer was great in our street
Only the odd horse-and-cart came by;
And the barrel organ and the monkey.
The whole street was ours for fun and games.
Rolling old tyres up and down;
Hop-scotch, whip and top, marbles,
Flicking cigarette cards and
Snakes and ladders on the pavement,
You could move from house to house
Enjoying the games, nearly as good
As Hampstead Heath Fair!
But no money needed.
When I pass it on the bus
All that is left are the memories.
Our street bombed,
High-rise flats there now
No more street games.
Anywhere.
Kathy Randle first performed this
poem at the
Cumberland Market Festival,
Cumberland Market, at 2 p.m. on the Main Stage on July 29, 2006. She also
read it at the First Annual Winter Capital Age Festival, February 8th 2007,
London City Hall. Performed at Language Day, The West Euston Partnership
H-Pod, February 22nd 2007. |
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Kathy Randle
OH HAPPY DAY!
work-in-progress 2006
Oh happy day
When I can say
Exactly what I feel
About nasty people
Who hurt my feelings
-- Go climb a greasy steeple!
Kathy Randle is a founding member of the Purple
Poets. |
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Kathy Randle
A Day At the Seaside
(Age Six)
by Kathy Randle
04.06.2006
Splashing about in the sea
Oh what fun for me
Never wanting to leave
Though my costume did cleave
To my sunburnt back
The costume was cut away
I never knew then how much I would pay
For my day at the sea
Now with a back full of freckles
Except for the white cross of the strap
of a seventy year old scar
of a six year old's
costume
No more carefree
Splashing in the sea for me!
Kathy Randle first performed this
poem with the Purple Poets at the Camden
Green Fair , Regent's Park, London, England
04.06.2006 |
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Kathy Randle
Mothers
23.03.2006
A mother is constant, loving, caring
Like a soft warm cushion
That you can snuggle up to
And forget the world.
A mother lets you know
How much you are loved.
Kathy Randle first performed this poem
with the Purple Poets at the Tenth Anniversary Celebration
of the West Euston Third Age Project (of which Kathy is a Founding Member).
The Crypt, Munster Square, West Euston London on June 9th
2007. |
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Kathy Randle
LIMERICKS
2006
1.
There was a young lady of Limerick
Who was invited to go on a pic-a-nic
She wore a red dress
But her hair looked a mess
As if a bird had been sick in it.
2
A handsome young man from Killarney
Was full of himself, and could blarney
He met a fair maid
Roses at her feet he laid
But she fancied a ham and cheese sarney.
3.
A handsome young buck called Apollo
Would wink and make the girls follow
He would prance and he'd dance
And the girls took a chance
But they didn't get home 'till the 'morrow.
Kathy Randle first performed these poems at the Camden Green Fair
2007. |
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Kathy Randle
SAINT GEORGE
FOR ENGLAND!
five poems
Saint George's Day 2006- 2007
1. SAINT GEORGE FOR ENGLAND!
Saint George's Day 2006
St. George for England!
What a Saint! A Dragon Slayer!
Let's give a cheer
And down a beer
For current Georges (and Georginas)
Who slay the Dragons
Of Poverty and Hunger
And fight for Righteous Causes.
2. The Case For
Saint George's Day 2006
The brave Saint George!
Or so they say!
Not much use
To us today.
All the dragons
Gone away.
Or have they? Wait a bit
There are some left I think
What about the demon drink?
And drugs and gambling
And muggings and rape?
Perhaps we should ask
Saint George for help.
3. The Case Against
Saint George's Day 2006
Saint George For England!
I don't think
No more dragons to slay
So let him sink
Into the mist of fable
And promote Saint Alban
-much more stable!-
4. An Innocent Bystander
work-in-progress 2006
What have I done to deserve this?
I was just doing my own thing
Devouring maidens and frightening villagers
When along comes this "gallant" knight
Who I have to fight ....
5. The Maiden's Tale
19.04.2007
Dad said I had to go
And be eaten by a Dragon
Well, that didn't suit me at all
There were lots of parties
And dancing in The Hall
But someone had to be sacrificed
For the sake of The Village
Why me? Of course I'm a Virgin
Perhaps The Dragon won't be hungry
I do hope so.
Kathy Randle's series of poems about Saint George's day was published
in pamphlet form by the purplepoetpress, saint George's Day 2007, and the
poems were read by Kathy and the pamphlets distributed at the opening of
Saint Luke's Time Bank, St. George's Day 2007. |
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Kathy Randle
Norah
(a friend of ours
who was also a poet
who has gone to her rest)
March 2006
What an inspiration!
She lived a hard life
Always a cheerful smile
And word of consolation
After an operation
That went wrong
"Call me Nelson," she'd say
In every conversation.
An ordinary cleaner by profession
But an extraordinary spirit
Who all her troubles
Full of joy and determination
Someone to lift the population
Who will be remembered
With gratitude and love
By many of our generation.
Kathy Randle first performed this poem, written for fellow West
Euston Time Bank poet Norah Platt, with the Purple
Poets at the International Women's Day Celebration,
Dick Collins Hall, West Euston, 11.08.2006. |
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Kathy Randle
Six Years
Old
23.03.2006
I was always thinking of leaving home
Perhaps to join a circus!
But after packing - reality struck
I didn't know where the circus was.
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Kathy Randle
SCARRED FOR LIFE
(work-in-progress 2006)
Rushing to get there on time
To be late for the flicks was a crime
Especially "The Mummy's Hand!"
Tripped on a metal stump
Then put the side of my knee
Through the metal lump
A victim of wartime slavage hunt.
Limping on to my goal
The usherette - a good soul
Patched me up nice and neat
Then on to find a seat.
Throbbing pain in my knee
Kept time with the beat
Of the thump of the Mummy's feet!
It appears that had I had
My knee stitched up and a pad
I wouldn't have been --
Scarred for life.
Kathy Randle is a founding member of the Purple
Poets. |
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Kathy Randle
MY MOTHER SAID
13.01.2006
My mother said you are going to School
Or Brownies or Sunday School
Unless you are really ill
Because once you join something
It is your duty to go.
My mother said some very character-building words
Words that have stayed with me
All my life
Like - being always on time for appointments
Always writing Thank You letters.
I am grateful for what my mother said!
Kathy Randle wrote this in a workshop with the Purple Poets exploring
the theme of 'Mothers.' |
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Kathy Randle
A Child in Wartime Looks to the
Future
2005
The war to end - going home
Living with Mum and Grandma again.
Free to travel - explore
To live in peace for evermore.
Sweets to eat, things to buy,
Lots of fruit; Oh boy Oh boy!
No more second hand clothes and shoes,
All new clothes for me to enjoy.
Back to London; lots to do,
Visit museums and the ZOO!
Kathy Randle first performed this poem with the Purple Poets
at the National Poetry
Day Celebration, The Poetry Café, London, England
06.10.2005 |
links to Kathy Randle's other
work:
BBC - WW2 People's War - Evacuee Contributed by: miriam; People in story::
Kathy Randle; Location of story:: Midlands ... includes
archival photographs.
www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/45/a3894645.shtml
BBC - WW2 People's War - evacuation This story was submitted to the People's
War site by a volunteer from Regents Park Library on behalf of Kathy
Randle.
www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/user/63/u979163.shtml
Annual Report --File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat -
Kathy Randle - Community Representative for Older People.
‘Golden Years’ Committee, Third Age Project.
westeustonpartnership.co.uk/resources/ARs/WEP_Annual_Report_0304.pdf
West Euston Partnership BoardKathy Randle - Community Representative for
Older People ‘Golden Years’ Committee, Third Age Project.
www.westeustonpartnership.co.uk/partnership/board.html
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