CROW Nostalgia reader John Parker has contacted us from the United States after we published old photographs of Royston pubs. Mr Parker produced a list of pubs that were once in Royston when every other building appeared to be a licensed premises. He said

CROW Nostalgia reader John Parker has contacted us from the United States after we published old photographs of Royston pubs.

Mr Parker produced a list of pubs that were once in Royston when every other building appeared to be a licensed premises.

He said the list was given to him some years ago by Roy Greenhill, the brother of his father-in-law, Jack Greenhill.

Both men were Royston born and bred, and their father was the Royston milkman.

Mr Parker also enclosed a poem which was written about the pubs.

Not so long ago in Royston,

Of pubs there was a score;

And further back along the years, perhaps as many more.

Who had the longest High Street? From North Star to The Sun?

Why Royston did. The comics cried, and I've but just begun.

The Prince of Wales did grace us, on the corner standing;

King William and The Crown itself in majesty banding.

The Angel and The Falcon have both now flown away;

The White Horse trotted off, gone as well the old Railway.

Here once there roared rampant, proudly the old Red Lion sign,

The Hoops? Remember it? The company there was fine.

All gone; all past; extinct; memoriall'd not in stone,

Thank Bacchus there are others, and not just one alone.

The North Star still stands northward, the White Bear sign next scan;

The Boar's Head rules the upper road, next to the Green Man,

And Scottish Stuart Chequers still holds the corner strong;

While Bull and Banyers each, take the happy hotel throng.

And the jolly Coach and Horses stands in the bottleneck, while Horse and Groom, and Jockey, are still at call and beck.

Death to teetotal planners, who'd abolish such as these.

We've lost enough already - who are they trying to please.

Chiron