EWE

I blame my dear old aunty May for this. A parcel arrived in time for my sixth birthday and I remember opening it with my dad to find that, in addition to her usual well-chosen and beautifully written birthday card, there was also an equally well-chosen small book, number seven in the Railway Series, Toby the Tram Engine by the Rev. W. Awdry. I was captivated, not only by the beautifully written prose, but by the wonderful illustrations by C. Reginald Dalby. It became a favourite railway book of mine and I still have that copy, much thumbed and very much treasured. Fast forward then, from 1971 to 2021, and I was casting about for a new project, having completed ‘Sheep Dip’ the previous year.

First steps

After a few false starts, I settled on the general area of East Anglia and, in particular, the Wisbech and Upwell. As well as blaming aunty May and , I also have to point the finger at my chum, Alex Warren, a very accomplished and terribly