Wednesday 19 August
In yesterday’s post, I mentioned about walking in my local area. How these walks during and since lockdown, and since having Mabel, have helped me appreciate the world on my own doorstep. Also, importantly, to know where I can and cannot walk. The other week a friend mentioned how his collection of simple maps by Wilfrid George are little gems that remind him of his time living here. Wilfrid created these maps as part of his ‘campaign’ to keep public rights of way accessible for all. Attending parish council meetings, to raise awareness of overgrown or inaccessible footpaths and bridleways was where Mr George started.
Wilfrid George is a quite extraordinary man. His name is seldom recognised when mentioned, yet his maps appear in many, many cupboards and drawers throughout the east of England.
He was born in London in 1929. And, having been evacuated to his aunties house in Beccles, he drew his first map so that he got to know the area. He did this wherever he lived and loved to note the local names for different paths and cut-throughs.
After leaving school in Framlingham, he followed in his father’s footsteps as a pharmacist ending up in Halesworth, Suffolk again. Then to Aldeburgh after he got married in 1954 where he lives to this day.
His memory is remarkable. In chapter seven of the interview with him by Aldeburgh Historical Society, he recalls buying a motorcycle (a Panther 350) from one of only two motorcycle shops in Norwich in 1951. He can not only remember the exact route back from Norwich to Halesworth, but can recount the two times he stalled the bike and where. I can just about remember what I had for dinner last night.
He left managing his last pharmacy in Aldeburgh in 1985 to start making maps. I love the way he describes how he didn’t enjoy his time in Aldeburgh due to the “demanding retired element” that lived there and would visit his chemist and be so needy.
So, he started by drawing a simple map of his local village and surrounds, as friends had requested one – he printed 50. The map covered two sheets of foolscap which he then glued together. Demand increased and soon he was drawing maps of an ever increasing number of areas where people enjoyed walking. His maps are simple lines, some annotations and no colour.
Oddly, I have just been contacted by the Ramblers association, asking if I would like to join. Wilfrid has been a long time member of the Ramblers and explains how, if you’re passionate about something, and there’s an organisation as passionate as you are, then you should join it. They will always need your support.
He talks of how, as adults, we should see ourselves as custodians of the footpaths, bridleways and other rights of way around us. We have a duty to keep them open and accessible for the younger generations who cannot conceive of their importance yet due to their age.
So, approaching the grand age of 91, Wilfrid George has sold well over half a million maps now. Any serious East Anglian resident will have at least one of his maps, usually missing the little green paper band across the middle. And when asked what the secret to a happy life is “that you’ve always got to have something to look forward to – and there is always something to look forward to in the garden.” A wise man.
Thanks, Sean. You provided the inspiration for this post.
The Bald Birder 