A WARTIME poem penned over 60 years ago has been performed as a song for the first time. Eric Cartwright, 87, from Woolners Way in Stevenage, was convalescing while serving with the Royal Artillery in India during World War II when he was declared unfit f

A WARTIME poem penned over 60 years ago has been performed as a song for the first time.

Eric Cartwright, 87, from Woolners Way in Stevenage, was convalescing while serving with the Royal Artillery in India during World War II when he was declared unfit for active duty.

He was then transferred to ENSA, the entertainment corps.

In 1942 he wrote Two Happy People to his future wife, Doris who, until then, he had only ever exchanged letters with. The couple eventually met and were married after the war in 1945.

Although he had previously put music to the poem it had never been performed until just over a week ago at a charity concert held at a church in Shropshire.

Mr Cartwright, a former secretary of Stevenage Gardens and Allotments' Association, travelled to Shropshire for the show with his son Graham.

Mr Cartwright, whose wife of 59 years died 18 months ago, said: "It was really wonderful to see it performed as a song for the first time. It's been quite a while since I wrote the poem and it meant so much to see it performed live.

"I wrote it so long ago but it means so much to me even now.

"My aim, if it would be possible, would be to have the poem performed at the Colchester Barracks where the Green Berets will be arriving when coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq.

"To have it performed there would be absolutely wonderful.