THE EPIC OF PEOPLE’S PARK

An Apt Ode by Jill Fisher

When Railways bought up Common Lands
An exchange of Freemen’s rights was quickly planned.
So back in time in 1875 (moreover)
The land was purchased from a Farmer Grover.
Then Council did upon this course embark
To straight ‘way name it “People’s Park”.
That Freemen’s cattle had the right to graze
And Sudbury folk to, spend their leisure days.
Then came Fairs and Football – Circus too
Where folk could come and hiss and boo.
But times did change and Freemen had few cows to graze,
And wartime took away our happy days.
So time came when the Council said they must
Hand over to the Sudbury Commons Trust.
All went well for a time until
The NHS had a debt to fill,
Said” sell us your land without delay
If you won’t, we’ll buy it anyway!
A Hospital grand for you we’ll build
If you will to our wishes yield”.
So thinking now to Sudbury bless
The land was sold without duress.
But now the story gets unjust
The NHS said housing was a must.
Although the road and drainage they had laid
They were very much afraid,
No hospital would e’er be made.
“We know we got our money back and more
But poverty is knocking at the door.
We have to pay executives so grand
And redundancies are getting out of hand.
We need all Sudbury’s assets, we really must!
To fill financial craters of the Trust.
The town of Sudbury will not gain
But it will help to ease OUR pain”.
Then must go Walnuttree - St Leonards too
And even rumours of “Belle Vue’
And People’s Park and a site or two!
But we are told we must not grudge it
Cos it will help to heal their budget.
And it will benefit West Suffolk folk
And thereby hangs another joke!