Hilda Gibson 2!
We have spoken to Hilda this afternoon...her daughter has read to her some of the comments on the last posting. Hilda told us she was very surprised by the reaction, but delighted. We will also print the contents of the many emails we've received about her, and forward them.
We knew Hilda had written many poems, and asked if she'd mind if we posted another one here. She very kindly agreed. Here is one, written before the news of the commemorative badges...
"No Medals Will Be Won
Oh to be a Land Girl back in you know when;
The cows inside the cowshed and the pigs within the pen;
Bad tempered roosters crowing, hens laying germ-free eggs;
Pecks and scratches here and there, and flea bites on our legs.
Timber corps is busy; sawing – felling trees.
Seems more like a labour facing Hercules.
Farewell to the rodents demolishing our crops,
Goodbye to things that creep or run and everything that hops.
Oh mother, send me calamine: my face is pink and peeling.
Hot sun pierces through my Aertex shirt; strange patterns now revealing.
Rising early morning animals to feed.
Long hard days of threshing; harvesting the seed.
Oh mother, send me mittens for the frost is on the beet.
My hands are numb and raw with cold: I’ve chilblains on my feet.
No drilling, no saluting, never the rank and file.
Not so much clothed in glory as dressed in country style.
We bring no glowing accolades. For us no cheers will start.
Ours is a gift worth more than gold: a proud and steadfast heart.
Hilda Kaye Gibson"
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Nice one Hilda, what a cracking start to a weekend, thanks again Eddie and team!
Nice one Hilda, what a cracking start to a weekend, thanks again Eddie and team!
What this country needs is a great poem. Something to lift people out of fear and selfishness. Every once in a while someone catches words out of the air and gives a nation an inspiration.
We need something to raise our eyes beyond the immediate horizon. A great nation can't go along just watching its feet. I'd like to see something simple enough for a child to spout in school on Fridays. Sometimes a great poem can do more that legislation. I think Hilda Gibson is the very person to write it. :0)
Excellent!
Can't help wondering if the Imperial War Museum would like the poems. Seriously
Also can't help wondering if ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Publications would be interested. Maybe Hilda could be persuaded to read the poems herself - she's got a super presentational style; could be a great CD
From the two I've now read (and downloaded...) I'd have to say they're valuable not only as poems but as a part of "our" war history that until now, I'd guess, very few people, know much about
Tom(3):
While the wonderful Hilda is thinking on that poem, here's my attempt:
There was a young man, name of Eddie,
Who read us some news about teddy,
Being renamed,
But the judges were tamed,
And now Miss G's safe home in beddy.
Next Ed told us of some strife,
Of a certain Panamanian wife,
Whose husband didn't do,
A backflip from canoe,
And in fact escaped with his life.
Last night it was girls of the land,
Who gave the country a hand,
In wartime with bats,
They killed off the rats,
"Lots more medals!", we all should demand.
Tonight it's some more Northern Rock,
And a fight; who's jaw will get socked?
Some more on canoes,
And sundry new news,
And Paddy before six o'clock.
I think Hilda should be nominated for inclusion in the New Year's Honours List !!
Couldn't some bright spark at Radio 4 make an hour long programme about the Land Girls, or at least have a feature on Woman's Hour, about the unsung heroines of the Second World War ??
TSSC (4)
good but i think.....
There was a young man, name of Eddie,
Who read us some news in a teddy,
has a better rhythm!
I too have been moved to tears, despite my best efforts. I would also like to commend RADIO 4 PM for its exemplary kindness, respect and time shown to this super lady.
Thank you Hilda and thank you RADIO 4
Re 'Bedd Gelert's suggestion for a programme, I know a doughty 97 year old who helped to organise/check accommodation for land girls and make sure all was OK with/for them, in Eastern Scotland during WW2.
She was awarded an MBE for her work, of which she is justly proud.
Thank you Hilda
I still think that even in this declining Country there are people like you.
God Bless
Surely someone is going to publish Hilda Gibson's fine poetry in time for the medal awards next year ? Our family has a dear friend who was a land-girl and, now widowed and with poor sight, would find much comfort from the verses being read to her. Those evocative memories would surely be a fitting accompaniment to the recognition of the land-girls' valuable role during the Second War. There must be a publisher with a heart somewhere.
I was filled with emotion listening to Hilda. I had to stop preparing the tea and wipe the tears from my eyes.Iwasn't old enough to be a land girl , but I remember how cold those winters were.
"At 04:19 PM on 07 Dec 2007, Bedd Gelert wrote:
Couldn't some bright spark at Radio 4 make an hour long programme about the Land Girls, or at least have a feature on Woman's Hour, about the unsung heroines of the Second World War ??"
It was certainly an interesting piece and the subject would easily bear a longer examination.
But, of course, the big irony here is that this kind of intriguing feature used to be very much the stock-in trade of "³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Truths", before the Radio 4 Tristrams, in their infinite wisdom, replaced it with the execrable "Saturday Live" and its constant trickle of celebrity toss.
I thought Hilda was fantastic - God bless her and all of the others who kept the home fires burning during the war.
What a wonderful lady and genuinely honest interview. It was lovely to hear such inspiring poetry.
the genius of the PM producers' and of Eddie himself - is that this interview was allowed to breathe : allowed to find it's natural rhythm of human reminiscence. Unforced, without agenda and utterly natural - I wept down the motorway as EM thanked her, from all of us.
thankyou Eddie and Hilda.
Can anyone tell me how to get hold of Hilda Gibson's poetry written or recited?
What I heard on Radio 4 was wonderful.