Captain Stirrick

The ballad of Captain Stirrick (produced by the Children's Film Unit), to be sung to the tune of 'Oranges and Lemons': Victorian children sit locked up in prison/Telling tales of adventure to keep up their spirits/The newest among them tells a story in his turn/'Bout Captain Stirrick, and his bold gang of kids/Who pick pockets and purses to trade for their supper/At a fair out at Smithfield Captain Ned meets misfortune/Betrayed by his temper and a friend he's arrested/So much for the plot. The real charm of this film/Is it's the work of children, on both sides of the camera/Dickensian horror and Grange Hill type heroes/Plus rarefied humour, may be too much for parents/For kids it's a treat, it'll keep 'em off the streets.