The Outsider

When I added Colin Wilson to my list of Leicestershire authors, I feared that I might have to read some of his work. That requirement has been postponed thanks to a conveniently timed photo story about The Outsider at Another Nickel in the Machine.

However, I am tempted to purchase an original copy of The Outsider. The publisher was Victor Gollancz, so the book has aesthetic merit and the hard back editions have unusual jackets.

Alas for me, I may have to spend some time with his work Manhunters: Criminal Profilers and their Search for the World's Most Wanted Serial Killers given that there is another Leicestershire connection.

The Fat Clergyman

Sometimes it seems that Leicestershire has provided more than its fair share of source material for fictional characters.

Edwin "Teddy" Boston was the Rector of Cadeby, where he rescued bits of a light railway and reconstructed it in the grounds of his home. As one does. Teddy was also a model railway enthusiast and featured in this British Pathe clip.

Teddy shared his passion for steam with a fellow minister, Rev W. Audrey, and they attended many events together. When Wilbert Audrey wrote up the railway stories that he originally composed for his son, Christopher, his friend became "the Fat Clergyman" and Rev W. was the thin one.

Wilbert (Rev W. sounds too distant in the context) wrote the foreword to Teddy's posthumously published autobiography, Font to Footplate. Wilbert: "In thinking of our Teddy it is important to realise that despite the impression that this book may seem to give, he was a Parish Priest first and a steam enthusiast second". Perhaps those of us who find the number of hours too few to achieve everything that we desire should move to Cadeby where the hours are longer. Or maybe the steam makes things timeless.

Links: Pictures of Teddy; Wikipedia on Teddy; Origins of Thomas the Tank Engine (material taken from a broken link); Cadeby Light Railway (Wikipedia).

Ale: Inventiveness and the best of good intentions

Like many fine ideas, this blog was conceived over a few pints of Everards. With the help of other ale samplers, I quickly drew up a list of interesting authors and characters, but did nothing with it.

Better late than never, I've taken the list out of retirement and added a few more names. I'll work through the names and try to add a few words about why I (possibly only, I) reckon that the person or organisation deserves a mention.

I've got about thirty humdingers to talk about already, so I am not yet looking for suggestions.