- published: 15 Nov 2013
- views: 2428
Coordinates: 51°29′33″N 0°15′48″W / 51.4925°N 0.2633°W / 51.4925; -0.2633
Chiswick i/ˈtʃɪzɨk/ is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with an agrarian and fishing economy. Having good communications with London from an early time the area became a popular country retreat, and as part of the suburban growth of London in the late 19th and early 20th centuries the population of Chiswick significantly expanded. With neighbouring Brentford, it became a municipal borough in 1932 and has formed part of Greater London since 1965.
The name "Chiswick" is of Old English origin meaning "Cheese Farm" and originates from the riverside meadows and farms that are thought to have supported an annual cheese fair on Dukes Meadows up until the 18th century. Chiswick was first recorded c.1000 as Ceswican.
The terms Old Boys and Old Girls are the usual expressions in use in the United Kingdom for former pupils or alumni of primary and secondary schools. While these are traditionally associated with independent schools, they are also used for some schools in the state sector. The term is also used for those who attended New Zealand schools, Sri Lankan schools, a few universities in the UK and, to a lesser extent, schools in Australia, Canada and South Africa.
The Old Boy form is given a specific identification for each school. Some schools use an adjectival form of the school name, such as "Old Etonian", "Old Harrovian", or "Old Reptonian" (old boys of Eton College, Harrow School, and Repton School). Some use a Latin form derived from the Latin name of the school or its location as "Old Novocastrian" (old boys of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne). Some are based on the name of the founder, such as "Old Wykehamist" and "Old Alleynian" (for old boys of Winchester College, founded by William of Wykeham, and Dulwich College, founded by Edward Alleyn). Some are based on the school's location or street, such as "Old Gowers" (for University College School, originally in Gower Street). Many of the schools have histories dating back several hundred years, and the Old Boy forms may have been in use for a hundred years or more. Other more recently established schools have devised Old Boy names that are distinctive to prevent confusion with other schools. The tradition for many girls schools has been to use the term "Seniors" rather than "Old Girls".
Summer arrived on the back of a mockingbird.
It sang a sweet melody, but couldn't seem to find the right words.
I don't know if you've heard, but it's all over town,
Yeah they're buzzing about it now.
I was singing alone when the mockingbird came to me,
Perched on my windowsill, and hummed along quietly.
But before long she was singing along, and she said, yeah she said:
"I've been waiting so long for these words to come out,
It's practically all I've been thinking about.
So thank you for finding the words I couldn't find on my own,
Now I'm not alone."
Autumn was on it's way and summer was on it's way out;
The mockingbird told me: "I change with the seasons,"
And that she was leaving town in a few days now.
We said our goodbyes, and I secretly wished for more time,
But the seasons are merciless.
For a while we both stood in silence
Until she said:
"I've been waiting so long for these words to come out,
It's practically all I've been thinking about.
So thank you for finding the words I couldn't find on my own,