THE Modest Grandpa -
A  poem for J,J,A & C (My Grand children) by Harry Mitchell

You have a modest Grandpa and don't let it be said
That all my great accomplishments gave me a swollen head.
When I was a great deal younger I was an ath-e-lete
My friends would often say I had wings fastened to my feet.

I broke most records at my school and it was plain to see
My fellow pupils realised they weren't as good as me.
As well as shining in field sports I shone in most team games
And later acted as a coach to many famous names.
I was rather good at swimming, in fact I was an ace
I have to state, with modesty, I never lost a race.

At Ballroom Dancing I excelled though I mustn't tell you where
I danced with Ginger Rogers and shook hands with Fred Astaire.
I worked for some time in a lab. and I am proud to say
The team I put together discovered DNA
Bill Gates takes all the credit for the ubiquitous PC
But do you know who made one first?you guessed it, it was me.

I spent a good six weeks or more learning how to cook
But Delia Smith found all my notes and put them in a book.
Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. You saw him on TV.
But who was taking his photograph.. Believe it -.it was me.
Now you may well be thinking I invented all this stuff
But now I'm past my sell by date no one can call my bluff.
 

Harry Mitchell