Salisbury MP's song of thanks

Glen admitted that he'd been practicing the tune

Salisbury's new MP has upheld a 300 year-old tradition by singing "The Vly on the Turmut" from the balcony of the White Hart Hotel.

John Glen, the newly elected Conservative MP for Salisbury, took to the balcony of the White hart at midday on Friday to thank his new constituents with a song.

Former MP Robert Key, who served the constituency from 1983, used to perform his duty with gusto after each election during his nearly 30 years as the city's MP.

And Mr Glen, following his 5,966 majority win, was not only keen to continue the ritual but even admitted that he'd been practicing the tune as well.

"The Vly be on the Turmut"

Regarded as the unofficial anthem of the county - "The vly be on the Turmut" is a centuries old song that was adopted as a marching song by the 4th Battalion, T.A., of the Wiltshire (Duke of Edinburgh's Royal) Regiment.

The chorus is a reference to problems encountered keeping turnip beetles away....

'Twere on a jolly zummer's day, the twenty-fust o' May,
John Scroggins took his turmut-hoe, wi' thic he trudged away:
"Now zome volks they likes haymakin', and zome they vancies mowin'-
But of all the jobs as I likes best, gi'e I the turmut-hoein'."

Chorus

The vly, the vly,
The vly be on the turmut -
'Tis all me eye
Fer I to try
To keep vly off the turmut.

"The fust place as I went to work, it were wi' Varmer Gower:
Who vowed and swore as how I were a fust-rate turmut-hoer;
The second place I went to work, they paid I by the job -
But if I'd knowed a little 'afore, I'd sooner a' bin in quod."

Chorus

The vly, the vly,
The vly be on the turmut -
'Tis all me eye
Fer I to try
To keep vly off the turmut.

"The last place as I went to work, they sent fer I a-mowin',
I sent word back, I'd sooner take the zack, than gi'e up turmut-hoein'!
Now all you jolly varmer chaps wot bides at home so warm -
I'll now conclude my ditty wi' a-wishin' you no harm."

Chorus

The vly, the vly,
The vly be on the turmut -
'Tis all me eye
Fer I to try
To keep vly off the turmut.