DICK RAWLE

CATALOGUE

RECORDING

SUMMARY

BORN: Exford, Somerset, 1920

LIVED: Exford, Wootton Courtenay, Simonsbath, Challacombe, Parracombe

RECORDING MADE: 2001

RECORDING LENGTH: 4 hours 2 minutes

Dick Rawle's father drove the coach and four from Porlock to Lynmouth; his Uncle George was captain of the Lynmouth lifeboat at the time of the overland launch. When Uncle George died Dick helped carry his coffin two miles or more, from Nutscale to Stoke Pero church. He was in his prime, he says, strong as a horse, but it was hard work.

He bought his first sheep when he left school, 10 for £5, with his mole catching money. At 17 he was driving horses at Wootton Courtenay. Since then he's moved all over Exmoor, ploughing, thrashing, blacksmithing and doing contract work. After the war he and his wife Lett moved to Parracombe. He says he's never made out a cheque in his life and that Lett looked after everything, as well as working on the farm.

He has hunted and shot all his life, takes warfarin for his heart, and goes dancing in Barnstaple once a week.

Note: The summary of this recording is in outline only.

Dick Rawle died in October 2012.

Photograph by Mark J. Rattenbury