Residents' Association Forum

Thought I would share with you a poem written by Theodore Hook in 1834:-

"When sultry suns and dusty streets
proclaim town's winter season,
and rural scenes and cool retreats
sound something like high treason-
I steal away to shades serene,
which yet no bard has hit on,
and change the bustling, heartless scene
for quietude and DITTON.

Here lawyers free from legal toils,
and peers, released from duty,
enjoy at once kind natures smiles,
and eke the smiles of beauty:
Beauty with talent brightly graced,
whose name must not be written,
the idol of the fane, is placed
within the shades of DITTON.

Let lofty mansions great men keep-
I have no wish to rob 'em-
Not courtly Claremont, Esher's steep,
nor Squire Combe's at Cobham.
Sir Hobhouse has a mansion rare,
a large red house at Whitton,
but cam with Thames I can't compare,
Nor Whitton class with DITTON.

I'd rather live, like General Moore,
in one of the pavilions
which stand upon the other shore,
than be the king of millions;
for though no subjects might arise
to exercise my wit on,
from morn till night I'd feast my eyes
by gazing sweet at DITTON

The mighty queen whom Cydnus bore,
in gold and purple floated,
but happier I, when near this shore,
although more humbly boated.
Give me a punt, a rod, a line,
a snug arm-chair  to sit on,
some well iced punch, and weather fine,
and let me fish at DITTON.

The Swan, snug inn, good fare affords
as table e'er was put on,
and worthier quite of loftier boards
its poultry, fish and mutton:
and while sound wine mine host supplies,
with beer of Meux or Tritton,
mine hostess, with her bright blue eyes,
invites to stay at DITTON.

Here, in a placid walking dream,
I'm free from worldly troubles,
calm as the rippling silver stream
that in the sunshine bubbles;
and when sweet Eden's blissful bowers
some abler bard has writ on,
despairing to transcend his powers,
I'll ditto say for DITTON"

Very nice!

Now I am hoping Keith can come up with something similar!

Hum.  Thinks for five minutes.  How about:


The view from Church Walk
- or, an Elegy on a commuter village, by Rudyard Gray...

Now fades the gentle clatter of the train
Departing for the end at Hampton Court
Heads down, through soft slight spattering of rain
They come, some weighted down with the day's thought
And others on the phone to their dear wives
At home, where they resume their personal lives.

But as they leave their world of office cares,
Of sobering appraisals from some boss,
Or worrying about the price of shares
Or how their finances stand at a loss,
Or underpayment on their income tax,
They sense the village calmness, and relax.

Thames Ditton!  Haven of the well-to-do
(But not too flash, as with the wealth of Esher).
The home of lively individuals, who
Enjoy the quirky aspects of life's pleasure.
They treasure what is good.  Not all for profit
For other riches of this life they love it.

If you seek gold, and mind not others' harm
If all you care about is your net worth
If you would rather build on some green farm
If you would speculate in glut or dearth
Then go elsewhere, and drink, and ruin your liver.
We'll stay at our sweet home here by the river.

Now I look again at Hook's well-known poem, we can perhaps extract as historical factoid that the Swan served Meux (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meux%27s_Brewery)ales in 1834, although I strongly suspect that Hook added "Tritton" simply to rhyme with "Ditton".  The only plausible period trace I can find of Tritton in a quick search is here: http://www.staple-online.co.uk/page10.html

Anyone else tracked down a more convincing Tritton?

Thats really good!

Keith that poem is worth a few pints at the Swan! Fantastic! I am very impressed ! Just made my lunch hour!


Its the Colets nursary 'mens' night out tomorrow... apparantly last time they drank the bar dry... I think steer clear that night but another?

See http://www.staple-online.co.uk/Trittons.html. Could this be the Tritton Brewery referred to?

It appears there is some link to Youngs as well - possibly more probable. See http://www.company-histories.com/Young-Cos-Brewery-PLC-Company-History.html

Well done - that looks far more likely.

And Juninho - offer of pints gratefully accepted, but I too will avoid the Colets nursery men's night (as I avoid the squash club nights there, like the plague LOL)

I am half tempted to stick my head in - after all I am now a Colets nursary dad... !

BUT deffo pint or three on the Swan jetty another night... ! I would say tonight but will be home a little late.

We can see if we can come up with some other poems...