10 NOVEMBER 1990, Page 45

On the Death of Margaret Lockwood

All the old picture girls are dying, The proud posed queens Of the magazines under the cushions The black-and-white touched-up Ladies of all the Annuals.

Soft millions of dots In a thousand photographs Have smiled past one final gazer.

I like to think he too Begged heads to turn And face him, and lips to smile, And found his avid eyes Distracted by useless words In the printed captions; And for a second, thought Of having second thoughts.

Alan Brownjohn