Over the years many shops have moved from out of the town centre to giant malls on the outskirts. In September 1998 I wrote about our local town, Baldock, bemoaning the loss of traditional shops and the surge in the number of charity outlets, restaurants and estate agents. Since then the trend has continued. Plus ca change…

A man I knew had a shop
In an empty local town
Rent and rates kept going up
Few customers came around
Someone mentioned our boot sale
I think his name was Frank
Now he has his shop in a Transit van
And money in the bank!

1998 was the year of a certain Monica Lewinski saga. Of course the Baldock Bard couldn’t let this one slip the net!

Monica Lewinski kept ‘that’ dress
Under her mothers bed
I bet that now Clinton wishes
She’d sold it in a boot sale instead!

© Baldock Bard

The Baldock Saturday Car Boot Sale returns on the 14th April 2012
www.u-boot.co.uk

In 1997, the Baldock Bard (known then simply as ‘Stan’) wrote the first four verses for the Baldock Car Boot Sale adverts.

Based on nursery rhymes they immediately gained recognition throughout nowhere and nobody commented on their humour, originality or content. The world turned, blissfully unaware that a revolution was happening that would leave nations untouched for many years to come.

Mary had a clear-out
Couldn’t believe her eyes
Took a stall at our boot sale
Now her house seems twice the size!

Little Bo-Peep
Couldn’t get to sleep
Because of her telephone bill
She took up a pitch
That made her quite rich
Now her bills don’t make her so ill!

There was an old lady that lived in a shoe
Had so many children she didn’t know what to do
She took a pitch at our car boot
Couldn’t sell the children but made some loot!

Jack and Jill went down the hill
To sell at our car boot
Jill bought a gown for half a crown
And Jack bought a second-hand suit!