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Poetry and emotion

By: Age UK

Published:

Jim, 95, had many different roles during his working life, from an apprenticeship at the Royal Mint in London, to spending two years in the RAF, to teaching. Throughout all those careers, however, Jim had a hobby: poetry – a creative outlet that allowed him to explore and celebrate what was happening in his life. 

And while it’s a passion that’s been dormant for the past few years, discussing it seems to have brought it back into Jim’s life.

An unlikely relationship with poetry?

While Jim has enthusiastically written verse over the years, he admits he's never been particularly committed to reading poetry, however acclaimed the writer might be. Jim was an evacuee during the Second World War, and while some classes were held in the nearby grammar school, he admits he had a sparse wartime education, with no conventional English classes that would have introduced him to poetry in a formal sense, beyond a bit of Shakespeare. 

An older man, sat to the left of an older woman, behind a table with a wine bottle and flower on it
Jim and his wife, Daphne. They've been married for 75 years.
An older man, sat to the left of an older woman, behind a table with a wine bottle and flower on it
Jim and his wife, Daphne. They've been married for 75 years.

Despite this, Jim and his fellow students were asked to produce poetry of their own, allowing them to be creative with rhymes. Jim isn’t entirely sure when poetry re-entered his life, but he thinks it might be when he had young children of his own who’d bring nursery rhymes back from school to read at home. When they did, Jim would take the opportunity to write versions of his own, replicating their metre, often with his tongue in his cheek.

At Christmas time, for example, he’d pen lines like ‘Jingle Bells / Jingle Bells / Santa's on his way / But you can't hear him in his new electric sleigh’, much to the amusement of his children.

“That might sound strange or silly as a way of writing,” suggests Jim, “but that’s what I did, and how my interest developed.”

Over the years, Jim has immortalised many events and family celebrations in verse – from the birth of his grandchildren to landmark birthdays. On his wife Daphne's 90th birthday, for instance, Jim produced the following affectionate ode to the woman he’s been married to for 75 years.

A very special lady

Ninety years ago today
A special baby came to stay
Lovely features, hair quite dark
A fine addition to Raynes Park
And then as she began to grow
Learnt to read to cook and sew
Even learnt piano play
Skills still with her now today
Also showed just one more trick
Took away a school matric
Enough said now, or so they say
Just leap forward to today
Ivan, Miriam, Oran too
Are sorry they can’t be with you
And giving the group a wider span
There’s Nadine, Sean and Keith and Anne
But looking through the list of names
Quite surprised You don’t see James
A reason why you won’t see him
Because he’s really lucky Jim’

Not all of his work is about Jim’s loved ones, though. Sometimes he’s been known to celebrate simple things, like a brand new kitchen gadget.

In a modern manna

‘I must admit, I must come clean
I really like my bread machine
In former times a thing I’d dread
Was kneading dough to make some bread
But now it’s easy, really great
I use my scales to check the weight
Of all the things that make a feast
(must make sure to add the yeast)
With dried milk, salt and strong bread flour
It’s ready to go in a quarter hour
And then four hours are what it takes
It mixes well before it bakes
Then when the time has counted down
I have a loaf, all golden brown
That bread machine I’ve learnt to trust
For nothing beats a buttered crust’

There’s also a degree of social commentary to Jim’s work, when the moment presents itself. With the arrival of COVID-19, his writing turned to the people most affected by the pandemic, including older people, as well as acknowledging those dedicated to providing a lifeline to them.

Amended

‘Old Mother Hubbard
Checked in her cupboard
She looked in the late afternoon
Although it wasn’t quite bare
There wasn’t much there
She’d need a delivery soon
So locked-down alone
She reached for her ‘phone
No need for worry or fears
And when she got through
Just an order or two
Thank goodness for those volunteers’

A family connection

A woman with brown hair, sitting to the left of an older man, in a restaurant
Nadine and proud grandfather, Jim, catching up
A woman with brown hair, sitting to the left of an older man, in a restaurant
Nadine and proud grandfather, Jim, catching up

Jim is thankful for Age UK’s efforts, not just because of their support for older people but because he has a family connection to the charity – his granddaughter, Nadine, works as Communities Policy Manager at Age UK. Nadine’s role requires her to understand different policy issues affecting older people, with responsibilities that include responding to Government consultations, commissioning research, and meeting civil servants and MPs.

You’ll recall seeing Nadine namechecked above, as part of the poem ‘A very special lady’, which isn’t the only time she’s been featured in her grandfather’s creative endeavours – here’s one Jim wrote for Nadine's birthday a few years ago, not long before her wedding.

‘Nadine’s twenty-nine today
Not really lot to say
Just about to reach her prime
Hope she has a happy time
And now, not long, it will be soon
Will she change her name in June?’

“My grandparents are great role models for improving communities for older people as they have always been very active members of theirs,” says Nadine proudly. “They’ve volunteered for the local library delivering books, and helped their neighbours with lifts to the hospital.”

In fact, Jim and his wife, who’s also 95, met in a pub called The Royal Mint, these days named The Artful Dodger and a short walk from Age UK’s London office where Nadine works. 

“I have always loved reading my Granddad’s poems and find them both witty and astute – just like him,” says Nadine. “I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.”

What comes next, we soon find out, is a brand new courtesy of Jim, specifically about Age UK. Jim suggests that discussing his work has got his creative juices flowing again – and based on the brilliance of this short effort, we’re very glad to hear it.

Friendly advice

‘As you’re slowly getting older
Not so many games to play
If there are problems you must shoulder
Talk them through with Age UK!’

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Last updated: Mar 17 2026

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