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What Have The Acid Bath Murderer, Malcolm Sargent & Colin Dexter Got In Common?

Kahn Johnson
 

Stamford author Betty Clark has recently published her fourth book - “A Lifetime of Memories”.

Born in Oundle, Betty has lived in Stamford since the age of five. Her book looks back over her years in both towns, as well as recalling events from the world at large - including the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the first man on the moon.

In the book Betty details what life was like for a young girl growing up in the town.

She recalls: “Not many people owned a wristwatch so we took the time from the Blackstone’s buzzer. It went twice at 7:20 and once at 7:30, once at 12:00 dinner time, twice at 12:50, once at 13:00 and then once at 17:00.

“While my dad had his dinner it was essential for me to stand outside our house to listen for 12:50 buzzer. I had to dash in to tell him he had only ten minutes left before the work’s gate closed ... anyone not making it in time was locked out for half an hour, losing half an hour’s wages”.

Betty takes her readers through the outbreak of World War Two, including how people in Stamford helped the war effort by saving up for a Spitfire and how families had to take in Polish soldiers.

She also details those more famous people who once lived in Stamford. Sir Malcolm Sargent, bom in 1895, lived at 24 Wharf Road until 1920. He attended Stamford School, singing in the choir and learning the piano. He died in 1967 and is buried in Stamford Cemetery.

She continues: “If Sir Malcolm Sargent is Stamford’s most famous son then the title of its most infamous must surely go to John George Haigh, who was known in the 1940s as the Acid Bath Murderer.

“Haigh was bom at 22 King’s Road, Stamford, on July 24th. 1909. He was executed on August 10th. 1949 for the murder of wealthy London widow Olive Durand Deacon. During his trial Haigh confessed to five other murders, disposing of their bodies by dissolving them in acid”.

Stamford’s other famous son, author Colin Dexter, also gets a mention. Colin was born in Scotgate, and his father owned a garage where the Scotgate Mews now stands.

Betty knew Colin as a child, and now delights in watching every episode of Inspector Morse looking out for him.

“Just like Alfred Hitchcock, Colin has appeared in every Morse story on television. He either plays a man in a pub, or a college porter, or a moumer at a funeral - and I always spot him!” [Ed. but hopefully not in the episode in which he did not appear!]

Betty takes great delight in sharing her memories and stories with others. Along with her books, she has a scrapbook detailing the history of Stamford’s Darby and Joan club from its inception to 1994.

“I absolutely love writing,” she admits. “And I get a great deal of pleasure writing down memories to share them with others.”

Betty’s book is available from Spiegl Press, 6 St. George’s Street, Stamford, priced £4.95.