Old Pond publishing days

Is Heather asleep?

No, she's totally absorbed in her first reading of the manuscript of The King of the Norfolk Poachers.

This is the product of a remarkable, lengthy research by part-time Registrar and researcher, Charlotte Paton. It all began when she moved into a remote house near Pentney, in Norfolk. She realised that it fitted the description of the cottage occupied  by the mole-catcher and poacher immortalised in the 1930s by Lilias Rider Haggard in her book, I Walked by Night.

Charlotte's first task was to find out his real name, Frederick Rolfe, with the aid of the BBC Living History programme. But then as Charlotte delved deeper into Fred's life (as portrayed in Lilias's book which was based on Fred's own writing) she began to uncover lies and evasions as well as a wealth of social history.

Charlotte's book is due to be published by Old Pond in the autumn. Meanwhile, you can find Charlotte's own account of her researches in the October 2007 issue of Ancestors magazine, email [email protected]

Land girls on television

Old Pond Publishing has published three separate reminiscences by former Land Girls: Irene Grimwood, Joan Snelling and Sonia Kurta. Irene and Sonia have been interviewed today by different television channels. The interviews have been prompted by the issuing of a new medal to give belated recognition to the wartime women who worked so hard on the land.

85-year-old Irene Grimwood took a sentimental journey back to the Old Rectory, Halesworth, where she was billeted during the war. The ITV Anglia team of cameraman David Bush (left in the picture) and interviewer Malcolm Robertson drew out her memories. These included not just the hard work but also the fun that girls got up to: for instance, climbing out of a first-floor window to sneak off and kiss American airmen goodbye.

Irene's book, Land Girls at the Old Rectory, published by Old Pond, is a light-hearted account of days when a gang of girls who missed the last train could always find a safe refuge in which to spend the night. More ...

Meanwhile, Sonia Kurta was on her way back from London where BBC 1 Television had invited her on to their Breakfast Show. Sonia is author of Charismatic Cows and Beefcake Bulls, in which she recalls the farm work she undertook in the 1940s and early '50s. During much of this time she was a member of the Women's Land Army, and she was based in Cornwall, including a long stint on the Caerhays estate. More ...

Perkins engine book in stock

We now have copies for sale of this new book designed and published for Perkins Engines by Landmark Publishing.

A Square Deal All Round ... the history of Perkins Engines: 1932 to 2006 is a large-format hardback, 253 pages with 136 generously sized black-and-white photographs. The price is £25.00. Buy now

Author David Boulton joined Perkins as a student apprentice in 1957. He enjoyed a wide range of experience with the company at home and overseas as a development engineer and in quality control. He was one of the founders of Perkins's heritage club and retired from the company in 2002.

In the book he deals thoroughly with the company's engineering, finance and structure. Because the engines have had a wide range of applications, his story includes agricultural, trucking, marine and military applications, among others. In a useful appendix he gives engine specifications. David Boulton's account runs from the visionary founding in 1932, through the M-F years to the early period with Caterpillar. In separate chapters he covers the Brazilian, American and licensee operations.