HISTORIC UCKFIELD TOUR – ODE TO THE RIVER UCK BRID

18 OCTOBER 2021
HISTORIC UCKFIELD TOUR – ODE TO THE RIVER UCK BRIDGE
Many great bridges have had songs and poems written about them:
• The Iron Bridge by Billy Collins
• Upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth
• A Friendship Bridge by Sandra Fowler
• The Bridge Of Sighs by Thomas Hood
• Mirabeau Bridge by Guillaume Apollinaire
So why should the mighty Uck Bridge be any different?
I have penned this ode to the River Uck Bridge and the 1903 Bridge Disaster in the style of the great Scottish poet, William McGonegall – I hope you enjoy!
The Uckfield Bridge Disaster, by Wilson B Vermilingua:


❝Oh beautiful Bridge over the silvery Uck
You were knocked down, which was very bad luck
You'd stood proudly in place since 1716
Yet you were replaced by a new bridge, which was very clean
~ ~ ~ ∆ ~ ~ ~
Built out of iron, the wonder of the age
Uckfield's new bridge turned a new page
When it was opened in 1858
It should have been sooner, but ran a bit late
~ ~ ~ ∆ ~ ~ ~
One Saturday in the year of 1903
The new bridge fell down, unfortunately
A mighty Traction Engine, driven by Mr Horace Wright
Caused the bridge to collapse – giving everyone a terrible fright
~ ~ ~ ∆ ~ ~ ~
As the engine approached the mighty river of Uck
My Yeoman called to the driver, 'Mind you don't get stuck!'
But the engine was towing two trucks heavily laden with stones
Which fell into the river below, accompanied by many moans!
~ ~ ~ ∆ ~ ~ ~
Dr Sweet helped the men up, starting with the one who was nearer
Assisted by Mr Alfred Bennet, who was the engine's steerer
Then a local photographer called George Bingham Towner
Took a photo – which was a bit of a downer
~ ~ ~ ∆ ~ ~ ~
For over a year men laboured to make a repair
During which time the townsfolk were close to despair
Then one day in May in the year of 1904
The Uck Bridge reopened and people poured over once more
~ ~ ~ ∆ ~ ~ ~
Mr J Fife said the new bridge was better than many
Even though the repair had cost a pretty penny
He said it exceeded the bridges of the Tay and the Forth
And was much better than Ironbridge, away in the North
~ ~ ~ ∆ ~ ~ ~
I know not whether he was trying to be funny
Or trying to justify spending so much money
But the bridge over the Uck is a wonderful thing
Celebrated by poets and artists, and by people who sing! ❞
That concludes the Historic Uckfield Tour, except to say that gratuities would be very warmly received – thank you!
I'll just stand here for a few minutes trying to make you feel a bit guilty…