Newham Remembered (Royal Docks)

[Doc Vernon]

Thought this may be liked !
With thanks to Will B.
From Newham Stories!

THE DEMISE OF
LONDON'S ROYAL DOCKS (1981/2)

Oh how sad to see our Royal Docks
With grass growing tall around quays and locks
These Docks were once like a busy City-
Now desolate,abandoned and full of pity.
It's giant cranes that were so regal
Slowly rusting away-not wanted by people
Seagulls now swoop over this silent space,
Disturbed once a year by a power boat race.
Gone are the ships that came in on the tide,
With cargoes aplenty from far and wide,
Gone are the Dockers,Stevedores and Riggers too,
Chinese,Indian and Lascar crews.
But where are the goods we get from all nations?
They now come in by containerisation,
No more the sound of a ship's engine as she waits to depart,
Like some large friendly monster with beating heart.
Instead they talk of an Airport here now,
With Aeroplane wings replacing ship's bows.
But what would our forefathers say if they saw these Docks now-?
These Docks that they built with the sweat of their brow,
What would they do? what would be said?
Nothing I fear,just a shake of their heads.
So now we accept these Docks have come to their end,
like the passing away of an old C-ckney friend.

[Tony Wilding]

thats really good, cannot really add much to that, whenever i have travelled on the Woolwich ferry driving through Dockland in recent Years, it does not seem possible all has gone, no more Forests of Masts and Derricks, no slewing Jibs of Cranes, or the smell of Smoke from the Tugboats and Ships, the sounds all gone also, Whistles and Sirens, looks like a Ghost Town, if you travel from Greenwich Pier to the Tower of London by River Bus , all you see is converted Wharehouses , now Millionaires Apartments, the River is deserted, only sightseeing Boats, but the real sights to see , long gone, the River appears to have died,