Shakerley was farmland
Till 1948
Then Wimpeys came and built on it
The Shakerley estate
And we were first in Rutland Road
House beside the crescent
And out the back just fields and farm
An open view so pleasant
And up the fields
The railway ran
Four tracks for fast and slow
We watched the steam trains up and down
Engines all aglow
And on a high ridge
Tyldesley town
Manhattan to my eyes
Long row of public buildings
Set against the skies
And in between the Common
Where bugles could be heard
Every Sunday morning
The Boys Brigade parade
While we were playing football
The Bottom Field our ground
And Rock and Roll was starting
The ‘50s ‘60s sound
We got a television
The first one in our road
And all the neighbours crowded in
The first day that it showed
And life was good ‘up Wimpeys’
With gardens front and back
The war was over thank the Lord
Now we’re back on track
I spent my childhood years up there
Fond memories remain
The foundation of my life began
On that Shakerley terrain
Brian Fahy
5 October 2021
Erris Poetry 