The beauty of Ince

PATRIOTIC
POEM
ABOUT –
INCE
‘
Dear Editor,
This fabulous locally patriotic poem about Ince has been
placed in various Wigan newspapers periodically, having
been forwarded by one, Mr. Stanley Turner, (Taylors Lane,
Ince) and by an Ambleside Incer, Mr. Jack McCann, some
years ago. Mr. McCann believed that “The Beauty of Ince”
was written by an un-named ‘Can Row’ gentleman author
and that the poem was printed on an Ince census cover
originally around 1940! My wife Elsie believes that people
paid 1s. years ago for a specially printed version of this
poem. As Jack Mcann told us in 1990, “The Beauty of
Ince” would be gratefully received as a Christmas present!
Kenneth Lucas
80 Park Road, Hindley
Wigan WN2 3RX
Mr. Lucas recalls his dancing days on p9 Ed.
THE BEAUTY OF INCE
Folks have talked in praise of Blackpool
And of Rhyl and Colwyn Bay
Of Southport and of Morecambe
Whilst lots of folk who say
That the Ise of Man is nicest
‘Cos there’s such a lot of sea
But Ince my dear old birthplace
Is by far the best to me.
Ince has got a perfect climate
Suitable for young and old
For in summer we’ve got warm weather
While in winter time we’ve cold.
As for air that’s soft and balmy
There’s no better to be found
Than the air that’s wafted over
From the refuse tipping ground.
We’ve beauty and a splendour
That beats Switzerland to bits
Where the Leeds and Liverpool canal
Flows by the Rose Bridge pits
And although we have no mountains
Yet there’s one thing we can claim
We’ve a great majestic slag tip
At the top of Belle Green Lane.
We haven’t any promenade
Or gardens like Belle Vue
But we have a nice few dirt tips
And a colliery or two
While there’s nothing I like better
than to sit down with a book
‘Neath the shade of might oaks and elms
On the banks of Carrow Brook.
I have oft times in the morning
To the singing of the lark
Walked across Amberswood Common
And around Walmesley Park.
I’ve spent many happy mornings
With this singing overhead
But I now find early mornings
Are much nicer spent in bed.
I love to see the Common
Where the dandelions grow
Where the buttercups and daisies nod
When the gentle breezes blow
Where the dashing hares and rabbits
Try to dodge the sportsman’s gun
Where the cows roam in the meadow
And Jane Green’s donkeys run.
Yes, the Common is of interest
Though it smells of rag and bones
For it’s wonderful to watch them
Carving out the rubbing stones
And ‘tis here that happy children
From all corners of the land
Play with unrestricted freedom
With rubbing stones and sand

From.https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Docs/PDF/Resident/Leisure/Museums-and-archives/archives/Past-Forward/pf26.pdf

I like that Lolly, it rather sums up the expression “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”

a belter

Something I shall never forget, about fifteen years ago....as we were driving from the crematorium at Ince ,some teenagers rough and ready all had baseball caps on..and when they saw us they all took their baseball caps off..how many grown ups do that nowadays...it was really touching.