Story of Notties – a Poem

Notties, a small village on the Midlands Meander
Peaceful, productive, and perfect to gander
The locals were mostly farmers, a hard-working bunch
And shopkeepers, Spas and perfect spots for lunch

Rawdon’s for Gin and a perfect home brew
Fordoun, Brookdale and Indigo Fields, to name a few
Fishing, golfing, and a mountain bikers delight
There was something for everyone, the future looked bright.
Farmers night at Notties Pub, always a festive affair
Rumour has it, that Ghost Charlotte still lives there
Wednesdays at Bierfassl for Bingo, Burger, and a Beer
Live music too, for extra cheer!
The community was tight, and always rallied together
Friendships formed and were bonded forever
The parties and events were known to be epic
With no social media, they were far from angelic!
The schools were divine, and life was sweet
Beautiful coffee shops, to sit and meet
With stunning landscapes and crisp fresh air
Our pristine environment, you could not compare
Then life started changing, the secret was out
Paradise was found, and there was no doubt
Notties became the place to be
With schools, community, and security
The village grew and grew and became a town
And for some, the smile became a frown
Business was booming, but make no mistake,
There came quite a few challenges in its wake.
People flocked to the village in search of work
Building, tog, gardening or for any perk
Accommodation was scarce and not part of the plan
The fight to survive was now the main aim.

At the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, there was nothing to lose
Crime, drugs, and rape, quickly ensued
And still the numbers grew and grew
Attracting illegal foreigners too
To add to the filth and decay
Where were the children safe to play?
A travesty and disgrace to all humankind
Divided by race, class, and small, narrow minds
And so, what do we do? What do WE do?
This small village that became a town, needs a rescue
It’s time to rally together, and hold on real tight
It’s not going to be easy, it may be a fight
The solutions are not simple or clear 
It is complex, challenging and there is plenty of fear
But we cannot let go of our precious paradise
So, think deeply and pause before you criticise.
We’re in this together and we’re all to blame
We need to be part of the solution, that is the aim
We are better together, a community united
Too much to lose, we need to be fore-sighted.
And so, for your sake and mine, can we work together?
We have so much to lose, it must get better
For our children and grandchildren, we need to act now
For our environment, our country, our planet, but how?

by Missy Hughes 2022