The Girl from Holts Lane

He courted her during the war,
The boy from Reading
Who joined the R.A.F.
Handsome in his uniform,
Quite a catch.
But he thought she would say no,
Maybe wouldn’t go
If she knew, so he lied
Pretended he was older;
Until she was smitten,
And he was bolder.

And when he asked?
She said yes!
And they were happy,
A small wedding,
Coupons carefully saved.
And a cardboard cut out cake,
For the picture
Hiding a Victoria sponge,
When they were young.

And now they smile at me
From the faded memory
in the old tin box,
The years washed away,
Their eyes still the same,
The boy from Reading and Betty,
The girl from Holts Lane.