大象传媒

This is an extract from the 'memoirs' of my late father Frank Willmot who at the time of this story was based at a Starfish site in Cheshire.
"Tom Scrimshaw and I were billeted in a little village called Hatton. He was a Londoner and had been a quarter miler in the Berlin Olympics in 1936. We did a lot of running in our spare time 鈥� he taught me a lot. In the local farm another of our lot was billeted , his name was Reg Pinner. He was also came from the London area, but was completely different to Tom. A hard rugged individual , more of a countryman. As he lived in the farm, the farmer lent him ferrets, nets, grafter ( a sharp curved spade) and a shotgun. I went with him on rabbiting expeditions; there were hundreds here, and hares. As we had a lot of the land closed off, they were ours!
First time out we came back with 18 on a long pole which we gave to the farmer, and wondered what he did with them. The next foray bagged 20, but this time took in 10 and cached the rest. Our landlady got 2 and the rest went around the other billets. The old farmer said 鈥淣ot so many this time.鈥� 鈥淣o鈥�, said Reg,鈥� a lot of the B------s bolted鈥�.

At this time I was courting a young lady called Marion at Stockton Heath, 3 miles down the road Nr Warrington. Knowing how short of meat people were I disposed of our surplus bunnies in that direction 鈥� 2/- a rabbit, 2/6 a hare. They were delighted, a Cheshire rabbit looks and tastes like chicken. I gave the cash received to Reg.

One night I was catching a bus to Stockton Heath at a pub called the Cat and Lion out on the main road. Luckily I was wearing a long black issue waterproof, under which was tied to my belt a very stiff rabbit. Who should also be catching the bus, but the farmer. This was awkward as I had to climb up the bus steps ahead of him. The only answer was to limp 鈥� which I did, and then make up a story about straining a leg muscle, whilst he sat next to me on the journey into town; me with my leg outstretched to continue the pretence. I had to get out before him, which involved a slow motion limp down and out of the bus. I bet he never sat so close to one of his own rabbits.

One day Reg and I; farm dog and gun arrived at a large field, rose a rabbit near a gate . It tore off to the far hedge, and the old dog tore off in the opposite direction. Reg鈥檚 language was unprintable; 鈥渓ook at that so and so dog etc running away鈥�, but the dog knew a thing or two. The dog and rabbit met at the far corner, exit rabbit. Well done dog, who brought it back to us."

I don't believe modern day man, with its instant food and the availability of all kind of foodstuffs can appreciate the privations that folk went through during the war, and how a little bit of rabbit could make all the difference

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