Around here, the murder of Lilian Edmeades and Malcolm Johnson still has a power to paralyse tongues. People can’t bear to talk about it, and they may change the subject very quickly if you mention it… or pretend they don’t remember.

1961 I went walking

Out by Denton

With a bucket for some eels

And an apple for the ponies.

There were lovers on the bank

And I saw Edwin

Out shooting rabbits on the dyke

But I just went home.

We go out walking still you know

Out past Denton to Shorne

Past The Ship And Lobster

(what’s left of it all these days?)

Hear the watermen yelling

Like lapwings on the marsh

Or skylarks in the mud

I saw Edwin

Saw Lily from the church and she’s kissing a boy

Mad Edwin’s whistling ‘Come Back To Sorrento’

Dreams of Connie Francis

Walking back

Hands in his bulging pockets.

There’s two graves

And one inscription

on a heart shaped stone

For Lily from church and her boy

She was kissing

‘Come Back To Sorrento’

Behind me

I just went home.