Alice Woolfall in 1951 Alice Woolfall ("Lal", 1891-1960), my grand-aunt, was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, the 4th child (of 8) of my great-grandparents, Frederick Woolfall (1865-1949), born in Liverpool, and Emily Boulton (1861-1918), born in Newport, Monmouthshire. She never married and after her parents died, she lived in Birkenhead with her 2 spinster sisters, Elizabeth Woolfall ("Beth", 1888-1993) and Emily Woolfall (1907-1999). She died of a brain tumour, aged 68 years.
Lal used to write poetry to celebrate various occasions in the family. She wrote the poem below 57 years ago, in celebration of her God-daughter Mavis' 21st birthday, based on the name Mavis being used for the song thrush. A transcription is beneath the handwritten poem.
Lal used to write poetry to celebrate various occasions in the family. She wrote the poem below 57 years ago, in celebration of her God-daughter Mavis' 21st birthday, based on the name Mavis being used for the song thrush. A transcription is beneath the handwritten poem.
mavis
Pronunciation: /ˈmeɪvɪs/
Definition: mavis, noun literary, a song thrush
Origin: late Middle English: from Old French mauvis, of unknown origin
Transcript of Poem
To Mavis,
In commemoration of the day she was born, May 4th 1935.
One May morning, twenty-one years ago,
A Mavis was singing, softly and low.
And it whistled right across to its mate,
"There is news of importance to relate".
What news asked the thrush have you to convey,
That you are rendering such sweet display?
"Well not very far away this same morn,
A beautiful fair maiden has been born,
As fair as a lily, with eyes so brown,
Born of a fam'ly of highest renown".
Then they both sang in a complaisant air,
For that new born babe of their name did share.
So Mavis today, we all think of you,
And tender best birthday wishes anew.
And just as those birds sang up in that tree,
May your life's pathway be sweet harmony.
And may we be spared long with you to say,
"Here's to your health on this fourth day of May."
Auntie Lal
In commemoration of the day she was born, May 4th 1935.
One May morning, twenty-one years ago,
A Mavis was singing, softly and low.
And it whistled right across to its mate,
"There is news of importance to relate".
What news asked the thrush have you to convey,
That you are rendering such sweet display?
"Well not very far away this same morn,
A beautiful fair maiden has been born,
As fair as a lily, with eyes so brown,
Born of a fam'ly of highest renown".
Then they both sang in a complaisant air,
For that new born babe of their name did share.
So Mavis today, we all think of you,
And tender best birthday wishes anew.
And just as those birds sang up in that tree,
May your life's pathway be sweet harmony.
And may we be spared long with you to say,
"Here's to your health on this fourth day of May."
Auntie Lal
I suspect Auntie Lal would be happy to have one of her poem on the internet, even though it wasn't "invented" until well after she had died. She would never have been a poet laureate, but my aunt treasures the poem from her Godmother.
