Wet Sunday? Write an Ode to Blackbushe...

[PB]

Don't ask why, but a period of drumming fingers as to how to best watch the rain coming down..turn to poetry, though many would not call it that. Apologies in advance....


An ode to lost years

Six decades passed, but memories stay..
"Blackbushe Airport closed today"
The lights would dim, her soul to die,
staff stood aghast and many would cry.

Blackbushe was closing, no turning back
jobs soon going, some faced the sack..
Tears flowed faces but spirits held strong
No worry they said, "She'll be back a'fore long".

But down in West Sussex come rain or come flood
tractors were busy stirring the mud.
Blackbushe had died, it made us so sick
as they built another - and named it Gatwick

The bravest of names, from Airwork to Eagle..
closing their airport - could it be legal?
Their objections were made, the decision to sway
but "Blackbushe IS closing at the end of May"..

Some moved away, others went bust
thanks to a government no one could trust.
Good old boys like Bamberg and Freddie
became 'Independents' when the state wasn't ready.

Blackbushe gave space and a suitable home
they were ready to fly, the sky theirs to comb.
They gave 'independents' a meaningful push
happy to fly from their home named the 'bushe

For the US Navy t'was also closed doors
No more Neptune's, Connies, or C-54's..
The closure of Blackbushe was so sadly galling
the Navy'd no choice, they'd move to West Malling

When all seemed lost there came a saviour
already famed for his flying behaviour,
AVM Bennett bought much of the land
an executive airfield was what he had planned.

So started years of utter perdition...
..we simply wanted planning permission!!
Decades of fight and verbal grapple,
heated bouts and no time for 'chapel'. ( !)

From parched old maps came Vigo Lane
anything east 'must go' came claim,
"It's Common Land", came shouts irate
Its ours they cried, "Lets excavate".

Through legal battles and endless fug
the airport was bought by a guy called Doug..
He put up hangars and rebuilt Spits,
his Heinkels reminded some of the blitz.

When Doug felt he'd had his day
he sold the place to BCA.
They had plans, there was no doubt
they even built a roundabout.

Pre owned cars were the way ahead
so BCA put flying to bed.
They sold the field and signed with ink
a deal that passed the place to Blink

Now could the story get much stranger?
Blink now seemed to be in danger..
but Blackbushe made a mighty scoop.
Her future saved by investment group!

With Cameron and his team in charge
prospects now seemed much more large.
A new Blackbushe is in the offing
despite the Commoner's tiresome scoffing.

The Airport won its Planning Inquiry....
are building dates now in the diary?
No; Hampshire County dids't object
a Judicial Review you may expect!

So now we wait and wait some more
while Blackbushe goes again to war.
The County now should give some thought
to February's conflict in't High Court!

The QC's gonna to earn his wage
concerning the airfield's curtilage,
but after law has seen to reason
an end maybe to the County's treason?

PB....