Don’t let the leaves of Southwell fall.

Take the Fosse way, the a46 towards Newark

turn off at Bingham, crossing the river Trent

at Gunthorpe, turn right by the Magna Carta inn

past a Mastodon, then climb out of the valley’s rent

On the brow of the hill, a sight unexpected

in a hollow amongst springs

a millennium ago, our forebears erected 

a building so sacred that it brings

a quiet humility to that place

of prayer and music and contemplation

for the people of Notts, and beyond, it brings grace.

The men that built it over many years

decked it in all they held dear

of the beauty of nature, of God’s creation

the Leaves of Southwell, native to this nation

and the psalms from the voices of choirboys rang clear

Let the Leaves of Southwell never fall.

Autumn must not come to them,

Let the people of Nottinghamshire hear the call

this jewel in our crown, Southwell’s gem

we must protect our minster, one and all.

Garnet is my birthstone