I AM FINCUNIAN
With apologies to The Seekers*
We came to Finchley High Road when our youngest days were done,
to the hallowed seat of learning and so start our union.
We stood so proud and honoured that the call to “tome” had come
with the chance to learn life’s secrets - and become Fincunian.
We were wide eyed, we were anxious, didn’t know how things were run.
We were naïve, couldn’t quite believe so much work to overcome.
We were workers but sometimes shirkers, half our homework barely done.
But we learnt much through our years there - and became Fincunian.
We are one but we are many and from all strands of life did come,
We share a calling and sing with one voice “I am”, “You are”, “We‘re all Fincunian”.
In our coats of many colours, people knew from where we’d come,
thus behaviour was our watchword, and any trouble we would shun(?)
We were disarming, quite frankly charming with our Finchley stripeys donned.
We’d wait for the bus but made no fuss and always let old people on!
A noble trait as we knew our fate, yes our time would duly come
when we’d be Old too but we “chosen few” would be Old and Fincunian.
We are one but we are many and from all strands of life did come,
We share a calling and sing with one voice “I am”, “You are”, “We’re all Fincunian”.
We were the sportsmen, we were the runner with big races to be won.
Despair or glory, proud or sorry, competing was such collective fun,
in the frozen winds of winter or ablazing summer sun.
We were so sporty, but sometimes gawky, plenty contests, rarely won
as a small school with just a scant pool of talent to choose upon.
But we tried hard and we ne’er tired as round sports fields we did run.
It so made us, never phased us as we became Fincunian.
(But our “streaming hair” now has disappeared now and “lusty limb” now is just a whim!)
We are one but we are many and from all strands of life did come,
We share a calling and sing with one voice “I am”, “You are”, “We’re all Fincunian”.
We owe our standards to all those masters who gave us each a rule of thumb,
to go on forward, ever onward and be the folk we have become.
“Do the work now, never shirk now then rewards will surely come.
Build your future, one to suit “yer”**, then live life to maximum.”
So we look back in fondness to those days when our futures first begun
and thank our stars, and ruling Mars, that we became Fincunian.
We are one but we are many and from all strands of life we come,
We share a calling and sing with one voice “I am”, “You are”, “We’re all Fincunian”.
We look back at life’s journey and the way that we have come,
we took the high road, Finchley High Road, is there any other one?!
We did our years there, had joy and tears there,
Learnt skills for life there, some found a wife there!
Made friends for ever, forget them never, all are cherished every one,
as they’re the chosen, they’re life’s winners and they’re all Fincunian.
We are one but we are many and from all strands of life we come,
We share a calling and sing with one voice “I am”, “You are”, “We’re all Fincunian”.
As we grow older and life less “bolder”** school days shine back in distant sun,
when our futures were laid and those friendships all made, we still recall most everyone.
We’ve travelled high roads, and sadly low roads until “homework” here on earth is done.
We’ll thank the Lord when we move onward and unto “His kingdom come.”
“All hail” fellow scholar and thanks be in heaven that we all became Fincunian.
We are one but we are many and from all strands of life did come
We share a calling and sing with one voice “I am”, “You are”, “We are all Fincunian”.
BJA July ‘18
* This is totally & blatantly based on The Seekers’ written and performed song “I am Australian” which can be heard on YouTube. The writer has absolutely no shame at this part plagiarism! – “You won’t get anywhere copying from others, boy!”
** English Language never a forte!