The King of the Norfolk Poachers
His Life & Times
A Biography of the Author
of
I Walked by Night
The King of the Norfolk Poachers
His Life and Times
A Biography of the Author
of
I Walked by Night
CHARLOTTE PATON
Old Pond Publishing is an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.
First published 2009. This ebook edition published 2020
Copyright © Charlotte Paton 2009, 2020
The moral rights of the author in this publication have been asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Fox Chapel Publishers, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.
The author has made every effort to trace all copyright-holders of material in this book. Any copyright queries or further claims copyright should be addressed to Old Pond Publishing.
ISBN: 978-1-905523-89-4 (hardback)
978-1-913618-08-7 (ebook)
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Fox Chapel Publishing 903 Square Street Mount Joy, PA 17552, U.S.A.
Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd. 7 Danefield Road, Selsey (Chichester), West Sussex, PO20 9DA, U.K.
Cover design by Liz Whatling
Maps and family tree by John Gilkes
To all my family
past, present and those still to come
Acknowledgements
My very grateful thanks to the following: Bertram Akhurst, Saul Arnold, Andrew Baldry, Fred Bayfield, Toby Beadle, Arthur Bedwell, Margaret Benson, Mandy Bilverstone, Mr and Mrs Clifford Bird, Robin Bix, David Blakesley, Alec Boast, Mike Bott, Boydell and Brewer Group Ltd., Allan Bradley, John Bromily, Pauline Brunton, Mr and Mrs Colin Buck, Gordon Buckley, Brian Bulman, Val Byatt, David Carter, Peter Catling, Barry Colvin, Terry Coppin, Charles Cunningham, Richard Denyer, Geoffrey Earl, Liz Fenwick, Taff Gillingham, John Gray, David Grimes, Colin Haney, Tony Haney, Les Harrison, Mrs Hart, Frank Honeywood, Keith and Shirley Howell, Ivan Howlett, the staff at King’s Lynn Library, Pam Kirby, Les Knowles, Gwen Luker, David Mason, Bob Moulton, Stuart Nairn, Lawrie Nicholls, Rita Norton, Nick Patrick, Charles Patrick, John Pearson, Kim Puyenbroek, Terry Reeve, Mr and Mrs Herbert Revell, Cath Rolfe, Mr and Mrs David Rolfe and family, Kay Rose, Harry Skipper, Keith Skipper, Sue Smalley, Nell Steele, Steele & Co., Diss, John Timpson, Greta Towler, Elsie Treanor, University of Reading Library Archive, Madelaine Watson, Paulette Webb, Ian Whittle, Derek Whyte, Joy Williams, Sue and Andy Willis, J.J. Wright (photographer) and David Wing.
In particular I thank Nada Cheyne for permission to reproduce extracts from I Walked by Night and the Trustees of the Bungay Museum for allowing me free use of Emily’s manuscript. Also, Peter Billingham, John Mason and Peter Pilgram, curators of the Norfolk Constabulary Historical Collection.
Special thanks go to Brian who bore it all very patiently, and to Chris Reeve and Steve Caple whose encouragement kept me going. Without the help of these three, this book would never have been completed.
Illustration section sources and acknowledgements
(1) author; (2) King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council; (4) Mandy Bilverstone; (5) Norfolk Museum and Archaeology Service; (7) author; (8) Barbara Taylor and Lynn Library; (9) Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service; (10) Barry Colvin; (11) Shirley Howell; (12) Geoffrey Earl; (13) Brian Bulman; (14) Dr Barnardo’s; (15) Catherine Rolfe; (16) author; (17) Bungay Museum; (18) author; (19) Pauline Brunton and family; (20) Frank Honeywood; (21) John Reeve; (22) Bungay Museum; (23) Bungay Museum; (26) Bungay Museum; (27) Richard Denyer ; (29) photo by Peter Hodges; (30) Boydell and Brewer Group Ltd, University of Reading Archive; (31) Mr and Mrs C Buck; (32) Photo by Peter Hodges.
The front cover painting was photographed by Robert Fuller:
www.robertfullerassociates.co.uk
Contents
Bungay and surrounding area