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The Happiest Place

entry picture

I scan the paper and I'm smitten
by a headline: someone's written
"The happiest place to live in Britain
is here in Harrogate."

I sip my fresh brewed Yorkshire Tea,
gaze at the Stray where glorious trees
ripple sedately in the breeze
and I wonder "What's so great?"

Every town surely has beds filled with flowers,
a grand Turkish Bath with a dome and towers,
mineral springs and clean wind power
harvested on the horizon.

Two hundred acres of open space,
a theatre, a famous cycle race,
are these things not commonplace?
I find it quite surprising

that rudiments like local ales,
the Greenway escape route to the Dales
over the gorgeous gorge, fill the sails
of Harrogate's sons and daughters.

Once we were looked upon as fusty
but now it's official: we're fit and lusty.
It's not the teacakes - no...there must be
something in the waters!

Harrogate

◄ A Call To Peace

The End of May ►

Comments

<Deleted User> (13762)

Thu 20th Apr 2017 22:28

you're just gonna have to put up that alternate poem now Tim ?

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Tim Ellis

Thu 20th Apr 2017 22:13

Thanks for the comments Ray & Colin. It is indeed Betty's in the picture. My partner has worked there for the past 15 years, but she hasn't allowed me to go there in all that time so I don't know what it's like these days! Radio York requested me to write a poem about "why Harrogate is wonderful" so I happily obliged, but there is also a very different poem I could write about the town!

<Deleted User> (13762)

Tue 18th Apr 2017 20:30

and I was tempted to comment because I was wondering is that Betty's tearoom in the picture? I've only ever looked in at the window here and in Ilkley. Being a non-tea drinker always seemed a reason not to go in. That and the prices!

Enjoy the Happy Harrogate status for there will surely be bus loads of depressed people heading your way for the cure!

thanks for posting,
Colin

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raypool

Tue 18th Apr 2017 20:22

I am encouraged to comment Tim because I was an oft times visitor to Harrogate to play in a band at the Majestic hotel, and was very ill drinking here once. Put two and two together and you have an opinion, perhaps!
A hell of a drive there and back in a day from London by the way. I sensed a certain genteel grandeur there.

Ray

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Tim Ellis

Tue 18th Apr 2017 12:53

I read this poem live on BBC Radio York this morning. You can listen to it, and the full interview at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04z048h#play starting at 1:37

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