An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY 215 On the 7th I had a slow walk round Drayton of about seven miles with D.M.R., which I expect will remain a record walk for me for the rest of my life. We had a journey by rail and wagonette to Horning Ferry, also, I expect, for the last time. Just about now I began to print this autobiography, and to issue a series of Norfolk Handbooks. My Lammas house did not sell on the 24th June, but afterwards it was sold by private contract. Gilly came again to see me on the 27th to 28th June. On the 27th June my old and valued friend, R. J. W. Purdy, of Foulsham, died after a very short illness. I think I last saw him at the Public Library on the 3rd id., when he seemed as well as ever. His funeral, which was very largely attended, took place at Foulsham 011 the 30th id., and I was present and contributed the following appre– ciation of him to tbe Eastern Daily Press:- " Practically the last of the generatiou or old style Norfolk "sportsmen ended with the death of this geutlewau last Tuesday "in his 77th year. He was one of those who had seen game "shooting, aud especially wild shooting, in the good old sport– ,, ing <lays before over-preserving began, aud till his death (though '' ever a crack au<l much sought after shot at battues) he in his "heart preferred a quiet walk with a friend along the hedgerows "where he got a mixed bag to the hottest corner of the best "preserved wood. "Deeply versed in practical agriculture-in all wood craft "and in the manners and habits of all birdf;, beasts and fishes, he "was a most entertaining compauion. Till his death he could "hold bis own with younger meu and was never without shoot– " iug, for not only he had his own acres, but his uumerous " friends were only too anxious to secure the aid of his unerring "gun, and he might have shot every <lay of the season had he "cared to do so. He was always most modest as to his own "capabilities, and eloquent only on tlie prowess of otliers. "He was perhaps at his best on the subject of arboriculture, "of which he had made a profound study, and few people baye "planted more or with better results than be did on his beauti– " ful estate at Woodgate, Aylsham. Here again liis help and "advice were always at the service of all friends, and even of " strangers. "He came from an old yeoman family of Kelling, where "they had been settled between two and three centuries. In all " matters relating to local genealogy he was deeply versed, and " his knowledge as to all the great local families was as deep as "bis anecdotes of tbetu were amusing. It is a thousand pities "he <lid not carry out bis intention to publish some of his "remiuisceuces for had he done so it would have formed one of " the most racy and interesting local books possible. A very