Dear Friend

Introduction

This is an attempt at a plagiaristic poem using the words in the waiting room at Preston Station where I am once a month. Although I will try to stitch them into a series of rhyming quatrains, I will post this in Serve rather than Poets as I feel that is more appropriate, though it does mean I have to flesh it out to six hundred words.

I will spell out the numbers to ensure the syllable count and rhyme form of ABAB for each verse is kept although the "A"s and "B"s will be different for each verse.

As well as the word on the main image, I will use the ones on the images below which have all come from that waiting room wall.

Millions of servicemen passed through Preston station, some wounded and returning to Britain, some travelling to Europe to fight in the war and often on long journeys. Some ‘influential’ local women realised that these men had had no refreshments for many hours and so set about doing something to help.

It was August 1915 that the buffet began, headed by Mayoress Anna Cartmell, a team of 400 female workers voluntarily worked 12-hour shifts around the clock to bring a little comfort to the troops.

This meant that the buffet in effect stayed open for 24 hours throughout most of the war, serving no less than 386 on its opening day. It helped servicemen who were stranded at night without shelter or food, or who were making long journeys.

The total amount of men served within a day was averaging 3250 by January 1917. It’s believed that during the week before Christmas in 1916, almost 12,500 soldiers were served in 36 hours.

Hungry and tired military personnel, ranging from soldiers to sailors, passed through the doors of Preston Station, at all hours, seven days a week. Located in a room on the principal platform – now the waiting room on platforms 3 & 4 – the buffet was staffed entirely by female volunteers from Preston, preparing food and drink.

Shattered and hungry soldiers and sailors arriving at the station would be greeted with the kind-hearted women, bearing copious baskets of food and hot drinks.

But the home comforts didn’t stop there – because inside the buffet room itself, military personnel got the chance to relax and rest, perhaps perusing the newspaper, writing letters or taking a nap on the wooden benches.

Source Here:

I have included the song "Christmas 1914" by Mike Harding as I think it is pertinent to the words I have used.

Dear Friend

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Dear Friend Here's Just A Note To Let You Know

That Soon I Am Away To God Knows Where

It Was Only This Morning I Got Warned

Thank You For The Kindness That You Have Shared

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Eh Lads, Have You Been To Preston Station

That is The Place Where They Look After You

This Room Was Used By The Kind Permission

Of The L N Y And L N Double U

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The Week Before Christmas Nineteen Sixteen

Nearly Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Were Served

In Thirty Six Hours, Our Brave Fighting Men

Fed In The Preston Station Free Buffet

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By Nineteen Seventeen The Number Fed

In The Station Every Twenty Four Hours

Was Three Thousand Two Hundred And Fifty

To Keep Them Full Of Beans And On Their Course

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The Preston Station Sailors And Soldiers

Voluntary Free Association

Buffet, Provided Meals And Comfort For

Soldiers, Three And A Quarter Millon

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The Room Was Open For Twenty Four Hours

To Troops Who Had Been On Trains Without Drink

It Provided Refreshments And Comforts

Here They Were Given Cups Of Tea To Sink

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With Their Thanks They Showed Appreciation

In Minds Of The Soldiers This Place Now Dwelt

For Their Most Satisfying Reception

And Of This Preston Buffet They Would Tell

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Will You Please Convey Our Most Heartfelt Thanks

To All The Ladies Of Preston Station

Who Volunteered Their Efforts And Their Time

We Give Them All Our Appreciation

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