My Name is Yvonne Powell (nee Parkes)
Born in West Bromwich, West Midlands in 1951
Lived in Australia since 1973
I have attached a poem, which I recently wrote about the Midlands Sports Newspaper the Sports Argus. It's part of my memories of my childhoood.

Sports Argus

Sports Argus, it was different
This paper it was Pink,
Such a peculiar colour
For sports news, one would think.

Not very masculine
For results of every sport
Most of them played by men
Perhaps, Blue I would have thought.

However, it was my job
To the shop on Saturday
For Pink paper and ten Woodbine
Don't lose the money on the way.

It didn't seem to matter
To my Dad at fever pitch
He checked all the football results
To see if we were rich.

He never did win anything
We didn't really mind
As our family's love and richness
In no paper would you find.

This was way back in the Fifties
A 100 pounds, a lot to pay
To take two weeks off from work
To enjoy our holiday.

We never did miss out on that
Mom and Dad, they worked and saved
To travel to the Isle of Wight
To the Bell Tent where we stayed.

But each Saturday, without a doubt,
The Sports Argus Dad would pore,
We'd be quiet, and hold our breath.
Until we knew the score.

It really didn't matter
We had all that we would need
As a special treat on Friday night
We had the Beano and Dandy to read.

Dad, Home from work on Friday night
A paper bag containing sweets
For my Sister and me, if we'd been good
We couldn't wait to eat.

We shared them all with Mom and Dad.
Watched TV in black and white
Spent the time snuggled up
'Til it was time to say Goodnight.

Saturday soon came around
To the paper shop I'd go
So that Dad could check his football pools,
Here we go again. Oh No!

Yvonne Powell
17th June, 2002