The King popped off, God save the Queen,
A new Elizabethan scene.
A London fog, a pea-souper,
Made everyone a silent shuffler.

A sweet ration met its finish,
(Leading to some waistlines thickish.)
And in a newsreel’s hopeful gleam,
They showed a thing called “television’s dream.”

So much occurred, it’s clear to see,
But mostly, it was me, obviously!

(Note: The “pea-souper” refers to the Great Smog of December 1952. Rationing of sweets and sugar ended in July. King George VI died in February, leading to Queen Elizabeth II’s accession. The BBC’s television service was expanding, though still not in every home, oh, and I was born, the main event.)