Skegness Magazine

Source: Skegness Herald 1902

Nottingham Poor Boys Camp Anthem to Skeggy!

An interesting piece of Skegness social history, this newspaper article relates the ditty sung by the holidaymakers in the Nottingham Poor Boys’ Camp when their holiday in Skegness was over.

The lyrics were sung to the tune of the Boar War anthem “Good-bye, Dolly Gray”. The words are attributed to H.G.L. but I have no idea as yet who this person was.

Goodbye Skeggy Gay

A Parody
On breaking up of the Nottinghamshire Poor Boys’ Camp on the 12 September 1902:

Goodbye Skeggy Gay

We have got to say goodbye, Skeggy Gay!
‘Tis no use to ask us why, Skeggy Gay!
The tears are in our eyes
As the time so quickly flies,
When there’ll be no more meat pies, Skeggy Gay.

Chorus
Good-bye Skeggy we must leave you,
Though it breaks our hearts to go;
Something tell us we are wanted
At school again - what ho!
To the station we are marching
As we can no longer stay;
Hark the whistle now is sounding,
Good-bye, Skeggy Gay.

Hark! we hear the Sergeant’s call, Skeggy gay!
As we bid farewell to all, Skeggy Gay!
Then we give three ringing cheers,
For the town our hearts hold dear,
So good-bye until next year, Skeggy Gay.
H.G.L.