Wigan Album

A nice scene DTease.
'Hard to Port'. 'Hard to Port, Sir.'

Reminds me of the song, Messing about on the river. Now who sang that ?

Helen, Steve Coogan (mole) and Eric Idle (ratty) gave a fine rendition in their film of' Wind in the Willows' from which this photo could almost be a still.

The Scottish folk singer, Iain (Josh) MacRae, in 1961.

Sung by Josh MacRae

Here are the words Helen so sing away.

When the weather is fine you know it's the time
For messin' about on the river
If you take my advice there's nothing so nice
As messin' about on the river
There are big boats and wee boats and all kinds of craft
Puffers and keel boats and some with no raft
With the wind in your face, there's no finer place
Than messin' about on the river
There are boats made from kits that'll reach you in bits
For messin' about on the river
And you might want to scull in a glass fibred hull
Go messin' about on the river
Anchors and tillers and rudders and cleets
Ropes that are sometimes referred to as sheets
With the wind in your face, there's no finer place
Than messin' about on the river
Skippers and mates and rowing club eights
All messin' about on the river
Capstans and quays where you tie up with ease
All messin' about on the river
Inboards and outboards and dinghies you sail
The first thing you learn is the right way to bale
In a one-man canoe, you're both skipper and crew
Messin' about on the river
Moorings and docks, tailors and locks
All messin' about on the river
Whirlpools and weirs that you must not go near
Messin' about on the river
Backwater places all hidden from view
Mysterious wee islands just waiting for you
So I'll leave you right now, go cast off your bow
Go messing about on the river.

Reminds me of the film 'Cockleshell Heroes' ... saw it at the Scholes Pictures.

Thank you very much John D !

I just sang it to myself in my head....I am not the greatest singer....it was lovely to hear it & know all the words, I knew the tune well enough !

WHERE IS HARRIS AND MONTMERENCY??? PROBABLY STILL IN THE MAZE.