Last minute question for David

[Keith]

David, I understand you are a bit of local historian - well quite a lot really 

Have you ever heard of a writer called S.L.Bensusan? Apparently he wrote many stories about Essex folk in the first half of the 20th century, and was based in Southminster, although he spent a lot of time in the Blackwater Estuary area. His stories are meant to be the finest examples of their type.

Just wondering.

Cheers

Keith

[David Hughes]

Yes, indeed, Keith. S.L. Bensusan was a writer introduced to me by my Uncle, an editor of the local newspaper who held these things dear. You can occasionally get hold of Bensusan in second hand book shops of which the best is in Maldon itsef at the top of Mill Road. It's called "All Books".

"Marshland Omnibus" is a compilation volume worth its weight in gold! But there are others: "Right Forward Folk", "Marshland Voices", "Fireside Papers" and "Back Of Beyond". All written in the forties and fifites. He's a master of the marshes. Maldon, by the way, was referred to as "Market Waldron" in these fictitious portrayals of the marshland people. But it's for real. Perfectly recognisable characters.

I seem to have an almost complete set here in my shed. Mostly courtesy of my mother's researches when I was in London. What a gal!

I seem to remember his home was actually just North of the estuary, not Southminster, but I'm not sure.

Here's a topic for discussion though........

[Keith]

Thanks David. I got hold of a copy of Marshland Omnibus last week from Little Stour Books near Canterbury but it was a bit daunting looking at the contents. It looks like I have many happy evenings reading ahead of me 

Now where to start...

[PaulT]

Bensusan, eh? Unusual name - a distant relation of Pierre (guitarist) I wonder?

[Cocker Freeman]

Bensusan is an established surname round here, Paul. Mind you, there were loads of Huguenots ended up here whenever it was, eighteenth century?

[PaulT]

Cheers Cocker.  I wondered where the name derives... just Googled, and it appears to be Hebrew (ben - son of).