Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A RED UNITED DOUBLE-DECKER BUS
For Larry Bell from Canada
By P B Taylor
I
“Ee, I do ‘ope th’ red bus
Goes down our way?”
“Aye, hey, look sommat’s dancin’
On th’ dirty pavement…”
“’He’s been out on th’ town
Let’s go oopstairs when it comes, eh?”
“Wheer’s th’bottle – I put it on th’ seat?
Ah, hear ‘tis… hey, did ya play
Footie in th’ evening with tha greet
Lad from down our kid’s way?”
“Nay. Come oot o’th’ way an’ let me see
Wheer t’other lads are – what’s all th’ fouss?”
“He’s alaas causin’ trooble, not quiet like me
On th’ Red United Double-Decker Bus!”
Harrogate. Summer 1975
Phillip Taylor MBE was born in Amersham and educated at London University and the Inns of Court School of Law. His working life was spent, firstly at the BBC in London, in the Ministry of Defence and the Army, and then as a barrister at law and mediator at Lincoln’s Inn after he was called to the Bar.
He was Chairman of the Society of Civil Service Authors Poetry Workshop from 1982 to 1986 and contributed to their annual anthology FOCUS. His poems and short stories have appeared in journals, magazines and newsletters and some have been broadcast by the BBC. He has produced several poetry collections since 1972.
The Poetry Workshop was founded by Bill Barnes in 1970. It was a part of the Society of Civil Service Authors (founded in 1935) which now known as the Society of Civil and Public Service Writers.
A RED UNITED DOUBLE-DECKER BUS
For Larry Bell from Canada
By P B Taylor
I
“Ee, I do ‘ope th’ red bus
Goes down our way?”
“Aye, hey, look sommat’s dancin’
On th’ dirty pavement…”
“’He’s been out on th’ town
Let’s go oopstairs when it comes, eh?”
“Wheer’s th’bottle – I put it on th’ seat?
Ah, hear ‘tis… hey, did ya play
Footie in th’ evening with tha greet
Lad from down our kid’s way?”
“Nay. Come oot o’th’ way an’ let me see
Wheer t’other lads are – what’s all th’ fouss?”
“He’s alaas causin’ trooble, not quiet like me
On th’ Red United Double-Decker Bus!”
Harrogate. Summer 1975
Phillip Taylor MBE was born in Amersham and educated at London University and the Inns of Court School of Law. His working life was spent, firstly at the BBC in London, in the Ministry of Defence and the Army, and then as a barrister at law and mediator at Lincoln’s Inn after he was called to the Bar.
He was Chairman of the Society of Civil Service Authors Poetry Workshop from 1982 to 1986 and contributed to their annual anthology FOCUS. His poems and short stories have appeared in journals, magazines and newsletters and some have been broadcast by the BBC. He has produced several poetry collections since 1972.
The Poetry Workshop was founded by Bill Barnes in 1970. It was a part of the Society of Civil Service Authors (founded in 1935) which now known as the Society of Civil and Public Service Writers.
