The facts are true; Margaret has been my friend by proxy for some thirty years. I wrote a short poem about the day in the early 70's when I first met her on Moorgate station and she asked me if I could extend it to explain what they had in the black bags, this I did. Alas Margaret is dying from cancer and has only a few days left to live (31st October 2005) and she asked that the poem be read at the service on the day of her funeral as a lot of her old work colleagues from the firm of Paul E Schweder Miller Stockbroker's will be in attendance and will be able to associate with it. The abbreviation S.E. stands for (The London) Stock Exchange.
The Two Black Bag Girls
It was a rainy day in London when I was first introduced to Mags,
Two girls on Moorgate station both clutching, big black bags,
Kathleen said "Albert this Margaret, Margaret this is my friend Bert",
But you better be beware of him, his bigheaded and a flirt,
She cocked her head to one side, laughed then sneered then laughed again,
He dresses like a Teddy boy, she said, and is obviously most vain,
She destroyed my cultivated image of the dandy about town,
Seeing through the clothing to the boy, the fool, the clown,
I composed myself as best I could, what's in those black bag I asked politely,
Shirts and dresses, trousers, jeans all quality gear they replied, quite lightly,
We have accounts at Asian warehouses, around Wentworth Street and the Lane,
Where we buy our goods at cost price, to re-sell of course for gain,
We add a little mark up to each item that we sell,
The shirts are of such super quality they really go quite well,
One of our Jewish wholesalers does a special long sleeved line,
Our city dealing clientele think them rather fine,
They show off their S.E. cufflinks that they nearly always wear,
In one cuff a golden prancing Bull in the other a golden Bear,
We sell to the staff at Schweders in the office and on the floor,
To our contacts around the city, we are their fashion store,
Margaret eventually left the square mile, to pursue an ache or perhaps a call,
Said goodbye to the hectic city life and with Biff ran a market stall,
Over twenty-five years with Schweder/ Miller enjoying each and every day,
Living life with all her friends there to the full that really was her way,
Mags has been my friend by proxy for more years than I can say,
From a rainy day in London years ago, right till the present day.
Keep in your heart those special moments, think of her fleetingly or all day long,
Though gathered here today to say "Goodbye Mags" her memory will still live on.
