Wigan Album

Arnold left Heinz, to work as a Traffic Warden at Wigan, ending up as Senior Warden.
A lovely chap.
Last time I saw him was about forty years ago; shortly after he retired, when he was out for a morning run in Haigh Plants.

Arnold was my fitness coach at night school class in the '60's ,a great guy! This is the first I've heard of his millitary exploits!

I love reading about soldiers escaping from POW camps in Europe. what a pity he didn’t write a book about his exploits. His family must have been very proud of him. The book I am reading at the moment is about Lt. Alastair Cram who escaped 21 times after being taken prisoner at Tobruk and ending up in Gaza Italy his last escape was on the way to Germany. His favourite pastime before the war was mountaineering and it was this that helped him many times in his quest for freedom. “ Escape was easy - being on the run was the hardest”.

Apologies Gavi not Gaza.

I was intrigued to see a connection, of sorts, that the impressive Arnold Seddon (who like me was Wigan born) had with Major Roy Alexander Farran DSO, MC who wrote the book “The Winged Dagger” in which he mentioned Arnold.
Roy was a Major and the leader of the patrol, in which the remarkable Arnold was a member. Farran used to live in the “village” of Codsall (pop 12,000) where I’ve lived since 1973.
Farran had an extensive Army career and in 1948 faced a court martial, after serving in Palestine, over the death there of a teenage boy. Farran had been involved in attempting to suppress Jewish paramilitary organisations such as the Lehi ’terrorist’ group.
After his return from Palestine, the Lehi attempted to kill Farran by posting a parcel bomb to his family home in Codsall, unfortunately his brother opened it and was killed. He’s buried in the local cemetery.
Roy Farran emigrated to Canada, after failing to become a Tory MP in the 1950 Election.He forged a successful business and political career, holding a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Died in 2006 aged 85.

The book is being sold for £4 80 on World of Books. I must send for it …thank you Keith.