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16

Buckden Roundabout

September 2017

Pig at Grand PoPo

by Pat King

J

ourneying Overland through Africa is full of experiences especially when self

catering whilst camping. We had failed to buy anything for supper when we

pitched up our tents in the Ivory Coast. Was it to be tinned tuna and pasta again!

Suddenly a man appeared from nowhere on a moped, as they are apt to do in

Africa, asking ‘Did we want pork?’ This, to a group of travellers who had not tasted

meat for some weeks, was like asking us….well anyway, we certainly did want pork.

I was designated cook for that evening so I spoke to the man who instantly invited me

to sit behind him on his moped. Off we went down a very dusty, potholed road where

I was presented with a choice of four, small, black pigs in a dark corner of a farm-

yard. ‘Choose your pig’ he said. I wasn’t so sure that I wanted pork now that I saw it running around on four short legs. ‘Don’t

worry I’ve changed my mind. Just take me back and I will pay you for your time.’ I said cowardly. ‘ Don’t be silly Mom, I’ll

choose one for you.’ With that he pointed to the smallest, of course, and gave orders for its capture. Amazingly his friend

turned up, on another moped, and the poor piggy was tied to his handlebars. Still alive at this point and squealing loudly! I was

a bit upset but thought, ‘well there’s no going back now without pork so I might as well see it through’. He had also taken the

money off me by then.

We drove to his home where he directed me into his living quarters whilst he cut poor piggies throat. Amazingly his animals,

goats and chickens came to watch the final deed. I put my hands over my ears…sure you can imagine why.

‘Come see it being prepared’, Well the dreadful bit was over so I thought why not! We went into a shack where the pig was laid

out on a plank. There was a red, bleeding gouge where the throat had been cut. He sharpened a knife then poured boiling

water over the pig using the knife to scrape off the black hair. After scalding the whole pig again he dunked it full in the boiling

pot. I declined the head before he scrubbed the carcass with water containing dissolved blue crystals. A young lad came to

hold the legs as the man used a large cutlass to cut down through the stomach. Entrails slithered into a large bowl, grey intes-

tines and dark red lungs. He then jointed the pork.

Putting the meat into a large basket he loaded it and me back onto the moped and he returned me to a very hungry group of

campers.

The pork tasted delicious after barbecuing on an open fire. I did feel a bit guilty eating it but what an experience, one that can

only be gained by travelling Overland.

Writing Competition

This month, we publish the first run-

ner-up in our writing competition.

Congratulations to Pat King The judge

had this to say about Pat’s entry:

“This piece has a feel of a real event.

Although it is obviously a recollection,

the use of snippets of dialogue give

the reader the sense of being an ob-

server of the scene “.

Further runners

-up will be published in later editions

From Little Acorns - A Bomber Crew Story from WW2 by Roger Leivers

F

ive years ago, this October, an email was forwarded to me from a gentleman who owned a rare Squire Supercharged

sports car, enquiring about a Stirling Bomber which crashed close to Godmanchester on the 11

th

April 1942. The car

had been owned by Sqd Ldr Drummond Wilson who lost his life in the crash. From this email, an amazing story re-

vealed itself, and having now completed the research into the crew I have been able to put together a detailed account

of their lives, the raids they flew on and XV Squadron’s (based at Alconbury and Wyton) entire activity from October 1941 to

the date of the crash. But the story is far more than bombs and bullets, for thanks to the families I have been able to discover

what happened to the crew men. Did they live to see VE Day? Would fate be kind to them, or would she turn her back? And

what became of the families, the wives, girlfriends and children? The twists and turns of fate, the seemingly insignificant deci-

sions which could cost a man his life, or indeed save him.

The book ‘Stirling to Essen’ chronicles these events, revealing stories connected to the Battle of Britain, and even the holocaust.

It’s filled with personal accounts provided by the families, as well over 60 photographs, nearly all made available for the first

time. The book, supported by a Goodliff Fund grant of £1000, has now been launched, and its first outing was at my annual

Godmanchester Bomber Command Day. The following week saw the main launch take place at the Imperial War Museum Dux-

ford’s ‘Flying Legends’ weekend. Since then it’s been featured at the Town’s Gala Day and had a ‘reading’ at Huntingdon

Bookshop.

The Facebook page that supports the project (‘The Godmanchester Stirling’) is now followed by nearly 800 people from 42

countries across the world. The talk, by the same name, has been given to every historical society in the Huntingdon area. The

book is available online with both Amazon and Waterstones, or via Fighting High Publishing, or if you would like a signed/

dedicated copy then please contact me directly (01480 383460).

All that remains is for the families to meet in Godmanchester this September to unveil a memorial to Drummond Wilson and

his crew, an eternal reminder of the service and sacrifice they made 75 years ago this year.

Writing